Fansided

5 Minnesota Vikings who need to be great in 2020

By Brad Berreman

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings hand the ball off to Dalvin Cook #33 in a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings hand the ball off to Dalvin Cook #33 in a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images /

3. QB Kirk Cousins

Gary Kubiak’s influence on the Vikings’ offense was a great fit for Cousins in 2019, as he posted the best passer rating of his career (107.4) with other high marks. He also threw the ball a lot less than he did under John DeFilippo in 2018, and with Kubiak now taking the title of offensive coordinator more of the same is coming this year.

Cousins was Pro Football Focus’s top-rated passer in five of their advanced passing categories, including play-action and designed roll-outs, last year. The most surprising one is probably “next-read throws”, on which Cousins posted a 85.9 grade and an 86.2 percent adjusted completion rate (second in the league) on those attempts.

With a game-winning touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round last year, Cousins got the “can’t win a big game” monkey off his back. But after tying his career high in pass attempts in 2018 (606), last year was proof that less is more if the Vikings’ offense is going to operate at its best. Cousins is a critical cog in that machine, but it’s clear he can’t elevate an offense on his own sheer will or singular brilliance.

Cousins has not missed a start due to injury in five total seasons as a starter for the Redskins and Vikings. There’s comfort in that reliability, and Cousins has a solid argument as a top-10-ish quarterback in the league right now. Eye-popping numbers are not always a direct reflection of greatness. But if the Vikings are going to reach their goals this year, Cousins needs to be great within his lane again.

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