It’s time for the Vikings to start looking for Kirk Cousins’ replacement

At some point, the Minnesota Vikings have to consider other options

A hot mic caught Justin Jefferson’s words, but they were really just thoughts from the entire Minnesota Vikings’ fanbase.

Deep in the red zone, Jefferson found an open lane. He waited as Kirk Cousins rolled out to his left, unable to see the rookie at the back of the end zone.

Two steps earlier, it’s six points for the Vikings. Instead, Cousins waited too long, leading to an incompletion and frustration between passer and pass-catcher. Minnesota would settle for a field goal down by two scores.

The Chicago Bears held on to pick up a 33-27 victory while Minnesota’s season effectively comes to an end with eight losses on the year.

This is a story Vikings fans have lived with for years — which aligns with Cousins’ tenure in Minnesota. Whenever there’s expectation and pressure, Cousins folds like a cheap poker table.

The trick has been seeing through the mirage of how truly toxic Cousins has been for the Vikings. A glance at the box score reads as a decent game: Cousins finished 24-of-35 for 271 yards and two touchdowns.

But an interception to Sherrick McManis inside Bears territory sealed a victory and all but eliminate Minnesota’s playoff chances. Despite numbers that the layman might see as not that bad, it’s the nuance within the mediocrity that highlights how much Cousins damns the Vikings each week.

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1340766355658862595

Cousins just isn’t it for the Vikings

The Vikings offense traded away a star in Stefon Diggs this offseason for a first-round pick. On Sunday, Diggs’ replacement in Jefferson outshined the current Bill, breaking Randy Moss’ all-time rookie record in receptions with 70.

Minnesota also has Adam Thielen playing his near best ball. With acrobatic grabs, solid route running, and amazing footwork, the once-forgotten DIII product is on his way to another stellar season as the team’s primary target.

And let’s not forget about the run game led by Dalvin Cook. Another 1,000 yards in the Land of 10,000 Lakes will go to waste for a running back in his prime years. After paying a lucrative extension at a position that doesn’t matter, Cook is living up to his end of the bargain.

Cousins isn’t.

There’s nothing wrong with Cousins with teams looking for average quarterback play. If the defense was strong enough to carry the way, no one would be talking about Cousins bubbling blunders that keep Minnesota out of the playoff conversation.

Instead, the offense needs to be the driving force to carry the Vikings into the postseason. Cousins a great supporting cast member, but he’s not leading man material.

Minnesota has to look at all avenues this offseason in trying to find another option under center. Even if they draft a quarterback to pressure Cousins into performing better, anything is better at this point.

At this point, anything is better than getting your hopes up only to be let down. That’s Cousins’ specialty through the past four seasons, and it’s likely his calling card for the remainder of his career.