Kirk Cousins is embracing the unknown as he returns to face the Vikings
The biggest storyline going into week 14 is easy to pick out: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is set to return to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings signed Cousins after a 2017 season that saw them make the NFC Championship game with Case Keenum as their starting quarterback. The […]
The biggest storyline going into week 14 is easy to pick out: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is set to return to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings signed Cousins after a 2017 season that saw them make the NFC Championship game with Case Keenum as their starting quarterback. The theory was if the Vikings improved their situation at quarterback, they would be able to take the Super Bowl leap with their number one defense in the National Football League.
Things didn't end up working out the way either side would have wanted, especially since the goal was a Super Bowl and the Vikings didn't make the big game once. That makes his return quite an interesting event, as it could go a few different directions.
Kirk Cousins isn't sure about his emotions heading into Sunday
Heading into Sunday's matchup against the Vikings is something that Cousins has experienced before. He played the Washington Commanders on two separate occasions: 2019 in Minnesota and 2022 in Washington D.C. That experience is going to help Cousins on Sunday when he enters U.S. Bank Stadium.
"I think you just kind of go through the week, go through your process, you understand it's like a familiar place. But, at the same time, I've never – this happened when I played in Washington for the first time back, I had no idea where the away locker room was. I had never been in there. So, in that sense – I'd been to the Washington stadium many, many, many times, but had never been to it in that way. Kind of felt like a rookie in that sense.
"So, that'll have that same feeling, I assume on Sunday where it's okay, I've been here many times, but in this way, this is the first. So, there's certainly some unique experiences there, but at the end of the day, you're there to go play a football game and go play your best and win. that's where your focus is.”
Having that experience once, paired with being a 37 year old 13-year NFL veteran will help him stay in the right mindset on Sunday afternoon.
Cousins was an interesting enigma during his time with the Vikings. As a person, he was very consistent, but his play on the field certainly wasn't. It created an interesting dynamic within the fanbase with some loving him and others outright despising him due to his contract. When asked about the reception he will get, Cousins praised the fanbase for being great and understands they might make his life difficult.
“They're great fans. They're great football fans, and I would think as a result, they'll make it as hostile as they can for us. So, it's a great fan base. I believe the last time the Falcons played there, it was an empty stadium if I'm remembering right. They didn't get to experience that then, but in 2019, they did, and it's a good fan base.”
How the Vikings will defend Kirk Cousins
Now that Cousins is coming back as an opponent, the conversation shifts to how you play him. Head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about that on Wednesday.
"I have tremendous, tremendous respect for Kirk [Cousins]. One of the players throughout my journey as a coach– either coaching him in Washington in '17 or being very fortunate to get two years with him here, I just know how impactful a player he is. From what he's doing right now as far as his preparation for the game and and how he's done a really good job with that group of skilled players and kind of getting a lot of guys involved and running the show in what is a new offense there's probably a lot of characteristics that were able to carry over for him with Zac [Robinson] coming from a similar background that I came from when we came here.
"What I thought Kirk [Cousins] did best over the two years is just the dialogue and the connection that him and I had to try to build our version of the offense here, and then his ownership of that. Being really good end-of-game situations and totally bringing us back in many instances in '22, and then just how he was able to, even despite the injury last year still continue to have a positive impact on this building and his teammates. It's going to be a challenge. He's going to be very accurate. He's going to throw with great timing and rhythm. He's going to get the ball out. When he does, it's going to be going to the right guy. We've got to be all 11 mentality every single snap because he can easily put together the type of performance where he can have you scrambling on defense from a coverage standpoint, being a play ahead, all those things. We got to do a really good job with the principles of our defense that we feel very strongly about and know that they're going to have a plan for it. There's always going to be some change ups and game plan things, just like any other opponent, and we'll have those this week. Flo [Brian Flores] and his staff are working through that stuff right now."
The easiest way to beat Cousins is to get pressure on him. This season, Cousins has been pressured on 32.6% of his dropbacks (139 in total) and the numbers aren't great.
- 51.3 PFF passing grade
- 56.1% completion percentage
- 828 yards
- 5 touchdowns
- 8 interceptions
- 5 big time throws
- 12 turnover worthy plays
The interesting aspect with Cousins is that he's better against the blitz, so getting pressure with four rushers and playing coverage is arguably the best route to take. Get pressure on Cousins without sending a ton of blitzes his way and have Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel wreak havoc on Cousins in the pocket. His mobility is more limited post-Achilles tear than it was beforehand.
It's certainly going to a fascinating matchup, especially with the return of Cousins and the Falcons struggling over the last few weeks.
"I have to just believe that tough times don't last, tough people do," said Cousins. "You just keep going and pushing and you know at some point, they'll tell you that, hey, you're not going to get another chance. Your time is up in this league. But until then, I'm going to keep trying to pick myself up off the mat and get back to work.”
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