Kirk Cousins

2022 - 9 - 19

Post cover — Image courtesy of "NFL.com"

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins throws three interceptions in loss, drops to ... (NFL.com)

Minnesota's Kirk Cousins threw three interceptions during a dismal 24-7 loss to the Eagles. With the defeat, Cousins fell to 2-10 in his career on Monday ...

And though the first-half deficit might well have dictated the pass-heavy approach in the second half, the Cousins-led offense was nearly as woeful in the initial 30 minutes of game time. Despite the trials and turnovers of Cousins, Vikings rookie head coach Kevin O'Connell shouldered the blame, citing Minnesota's lack of offensive balance as it attempted in vain to dig out of a 17-point halftime hole. With the defeat, Cousins fell to 2-10 in his career on Monday night -- the worst record in league history according to NFL Research.

Kirk Cousins' Monday nightmare (Deadspin)

In a weak NFC, the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles soundly defeated their Week 1 opponents. They linked up in Philadelphia for a primetime matchup ...

Again though, that was Cousins’ worst game in two seasons, and the Vikings still had several chances to get back in the game. catches a perfectly placed rainbow from Cousins late in the second quarter, he scores a touchdown and the Vikings would have only been down by seven. He began the second half with an interception in the end zone as the Vikings had a chance to score. Also, the score never changed in the second half. The defense was able to hold steady the following possession, and the Vikings blocked an Eagles’ field-goal attempt. On Monday night, the Eagles got a big home win against the Vikings and the best and worst of both quarterbacks were on display. And the Twittersphere had a laugh. Health on defense was one of the reasons that the Vikings were not able to get into the playoffs last season. The Eagles entered the season as one of the favorites to advance out of the NFC to the Super Bowl after the improvements that their front office made to the roster. After two lucrative franchise-tag seasons in Washington, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed $84 million contract with the Vikings in 2018. Cousins made the playoffs once in 2019 and lost in the Divisional Round. In the midwest, a healthy Vikings squad is strong enough to challenge the weakened Green Bay Packers offense for the top spot in the NFC North.

Kirk Cousins in prime time: A history of the Vikings QB failing under ... (CBSSports.com)

It is the worst record of any starting quarterback in Monday night history with a minimum of 10 starts (h/t James Palmer of NFL Media). The only success Cousins ...

3 Monday night's loss prevented the Vikings from taking sole possession of first place in the NFC North after two games. [Ryan Wright](/nfl/players/2965130/ryan-wright/) punts, as Minnesota never found its rhythm offensively. In fact, Cousins finished as the Vikings leading rusher with 20 yards on the ground. After throwing for 277 yards and two scores against the Packers, Cousins threw for just 221 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions against the Eagles' defense. His third interception, which was [Darius Slay's](/nfl/players/1852913/darius-slay/) second interception of the night, occurred in the end zone after [Jordan Hicks](/nfl/players/1759912/jordan-hicks/) gave the Vikings a short field after picking off [Jalen Hurts](/nfl/players/2240246/jalen-hurts/) midway through the fourth quarter. 0 1/3/21 It is the worst record of any starting quarterback in Monday night history with a minimum of 10 starts ( [h/t James Palmer of NFL Media](https://twitter.com/JamesPalmerTV/status/1571888612513398786?s=20&t=PBtWKFvMj_58V7b02nHs_Q)). While it probably didn't resonate with him then, Cousins now can surely identify with the movie's main character, who endured a serious ["case of the Mondays"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiik3zS4y4I) during the film's opening sequence. 1 2

PFF grades show just how ugly Kirk Cousins, Vikings played (Sports Illustrated)

According to Pro Football Focus, Cousins posted a 51.7 passing grade – his fifth worst since joining the Vikings in 2018. 27.6 – Green Bay 2019: 14-of-32, 230 ...

The top-graded cornerbacks were Cameron Dantzler and rookie Akayleb Evans, who replaced Dantzler in the second half. Harrison Smith, who suffered a concussion late in the game, and Cam Bynum posted 41.1 and 35.9 grades, two of the three worst grades on the team. Minnesota's offensive line played below average across the board with the exception of right tackle Brian O'Neill, who graded well in both the pass and run game. For perspective, Cousins posted a 83.4 passing grade and Jefferson scored a 91.3 in Week 1 against the Packers. Garrett Bradbury graded solidly against the pass rush, but was below average against the run. - 48.1 – Buffalo 2018: 40-of-55, 296 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Kirk Cousins roasted nationally after more struggles in primetime (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

The Vikings QB has had a hard time shaking the narrative that he can't deliver in big moments, and Monday's game only added fuel.

On the broadcast, a graphic showed that early in the fourth quarter Cousins was 0-for-4 with two interceptions on passes that traveled more than 10 yards in the air. And they unleashed some rather pointed critiques of Cousins in the wake of his three-interception mega-dud of a game that contributed significantly to Monday's 24-7 loss. He's never won more than 10 games in a regular season, and he's never lost more than nine. Much of that came when Cousins was under pressure, a turnaround from his strong play in that area in Week 1. After Monday's loss to the Eagles, Cousins is back to .500 as a starter over the course of 122 NFL games: 60-60-2, including 1-1 this year. Cousins' Pro Football Focus grade for the game was 53.3.

Did Philadelphia Just Lay Out the Blueprint on Kirk Cousins? (Zone Coverage)

The Minnesota Vikings fell in embarrassing fashion, 24-7, on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Ed.

Rest assured, opponents going forward will turn on the tape from Monday night and try to replicate the chaos that Gannon and Philadelphia’s defense put on Cousins. The National Football League clearly likes throwing the football world a bone by sending Cousins and the Vikings on the road for Monday night. And on top of that, too many times last night Cousins didn’t trust his ability to maneuver the pocket and find the necessary time in order to hit a wide-open Jefferson. After all, Minnesota has hosted just one game on Monday night since Cousins signed as a free agent in 2018 — compared to five Monday night matchups on the road. Ultimately, it comes down to both O’Connell and Cousins learning from Gannon’s pressure packages and ensuring that a stinker of this magnitude doesn’t happen again. After the game, O’Connell shouldered the blame for Monday night’s embarrassment — which was quite refreshing after watching Mike Zimmer point the finger and not the thumb for several years. — I’ll let someone else discuss his drop down the sideline that likely would’ve resulted in his second touchdown on the night — Cousins crumbled under pressure. Speaking of themes: As we saw throughout the league on Sunday, offenses with the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals had little problem mounting a three-score comeback in their respective fourth quarters. Minnesota’s defense forced an interception from Hurts deep into enemy territory, giving the ball back to the offense with goal-to-go from Philadelphia’s nine-yard line and a little more than seven minutes remaining. [Avonte Maddox](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MaddAv00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) picked off the intended pass for [Adam Thielen](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThieAd00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-), and the Vikings squandered their second opportunity deep into enemy territory. [Patrick Peterson](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PetePa00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) blocked [Jake Elliott](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElliJa03.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)‘s 41-yard field goal attempt. He rushed for 57 yards and a pair of TDs on the ground.