Vikings fans don’t deserve how bad Kirk Cousins is playing
Kirk Cousins has never been the quarterback of the Vikings dreams. It’s still surprising that he’s suddenly become a nightmare for Minnesota fans.
Vikings fans have reluctantly accepted the fact that Kirk Cousins has been an imperfect solution to their favorite team’s quarterback problem during his time in Minnesota. That doesn’t mean they deserve what Cousins is doing to them now.
2020 has seen Cousins transform from being a decent, overpaid signal-caller to become one of the weakest players in the NFL at his position. His putrid performance in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Colts leaves his franchise with an ugly 0-2 record. That’s nothing compared to the hideous stat line he posted against the Indianapolis defense.
The Colts have a tough defense, but that doesn’t explain the full extend of Cousins’ awful play. There’s no excuse for going 11 for 26 for 113 yards and three interceptions. If anything, those final numbers slightly flattered what Cousins did when the game was actually competitive. The ugly truth for the veteran quarterback is that he didn’t give his team a remote chance to compete in a game they really needed to win.
Vikings fans don’t want to hear this, but the team doesn’t have a realistic Plan B to exercise at the game’s most important position this season. Inserting Sean Mannion into the lineup might be tempting, but his upside is limited to being a below-average starter. Cousins can at least point to his past performance as proof that he can conjure up really good performances under center.
The team’s ability to make a change at quarterback ahead of the 2021 season isn’t much better. Cutting Cousins would force Minnesota to eat $41 million in dead cap. That’s too much dead cap to absorb under normal circumstances. The uncertainty regarding NFL revenues and their effect on next year’s salary cap make it a complete non-starter for the Vikings front office.
Instead, the Vikings have to find a way to get Cousins back on track as soon as possible. That process will likely start by head coach Mike Zimer stepping in to shift the focus of his team’s offense. Dalvin Cook and the rest of Minnesota’s running backs should prepare for an increased workload starting in Week 3. Cutting down on the amount of times Cousins is asked to throw the ball will be an immediate priority for the Vikings coaching staff.
Establishing the ground game would also allow Cousins more chances to utilize play action. That should give him bigger windows to fit the ball into down the field. Scheming better openings is vital for a quarterback like Cousins that isn’t blessed with elite arm strength.
Next. Prepare for the Giants to overpay Saquon Barkley. dark
Vikings fans dreaming of improved quarterback play in the near future should get used to the idea that Cousins is the team’s only realistic option. That isn’t the future Minnesota fans deserve, but the NFL isn’t always fair.