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1 player the Minnesota Vikings need to step up in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forces Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings to fumble the ball at Raymond James Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers forces Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings to fumble the ball at Raymond James Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The Purple Gang slumped after a playoff showing in 2019 and the defense was a major issue. But their starting quarterback still has some work to do.

Mike Zimmer has been the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for seven seasons. He’s won a pair of division titles and reached the conference championship game in 2017. But one thing the club hasn’t done under his guidance is reach the postseason on consecutive years.

If his history is any indication, the Purple Gang will be back in the playoffs in ’21. He missed in 2014, ’16, ’18 and ’20 and went to the Super Sunday tournament in 2015, ’17 and ’19. This past season, the team had few problems scoring points (430) but couldn’t stop the other team from doing the same. The defense needs to bounce back in a big way.

1 player the Vikings need to step up in 2021: QB Kirk Cousins

But better play is also in order for the club’s starting signal-caller. Kirk Cousins is headed for his fourth season in the Twin Cities and has thrown more than three times as many touchdown passes (91) as interceptions (29) in 47 regular-season contests. This past season, only three teams in the league managed to amass more total yards per game. But the nine-year pro still has a major glitch in his game.

That aforementioned pick total does not include his tendency to put the ball on the ground. It’s been a problem throughout his stay in the NFL. A closer look shows that Cousins committed 18 of Minnesota’s 23 turnovers this past season.

He’s played in 109 regular-season contests with Washington and the Vikings. He’s fumbled a disappointing 65 times and lost 30 of those miscues. Dating back to 2015, he’s dropped the football at least nine times in six consecutive seasons.

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Cousins remains a highly-accurate quarterback who will get a little additional help this year up front with rookie tackle Christian Darrisaw. Better pass protection would certainly help. But protecting the football is something that the veteran hurler must continue to work on.

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