Cousins Misses Out on MVP Moment

Cousins Misses Out on MVP Moment
Kirk Cousins

Before Week 12 at the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was responsible for 21 passing touchdowns to just two interceptions. The Vikings record was 5-5, inhabiting the sixth seed of the NFC playoff picture.

Based on the lofty numbers from Cousins and Minnesota’s brief ascension to contender relevance in 2021, Minnesota’s signal-caller teetered on MVP consideration. His numbers, quite frankly, are among the NFL’s finest, perhaps only topped by Tom Brady or a healthy Kyler Murray. 

The Vikings probably needed a triumph in Santa Clara over the 49ers for the MVP chants to truly start for Cousins. 

And in that moment — Cousins flopped.

In the 1st Half, the Vikings played well offensively, grabbing an early lead because that’s just what this brand of Vikings does. Cousins was clicking, Adam Thielen was yanking touchdowns out of the air, and Minnesota protected the ball.

Then the 2nd Half hit. And that was just a calamity festival from the onset.

Cousins unleashed a deadly interception, and the 49ers offense correspondingly made the Vikings pay. He also missed wide receiver Justin Jefferson, a few times, disabling drives in their tracks. To top of it off, Cousins was flustered down the stretch and lined up behind the right guard — instead of the center — when the game was on the line, forcing Minnesota to burn a timeout. 

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The contest at San Francisco was a case study on why homefield advantage matters — especially for Cousins. Momentum has ping-ponged all over the place in other Vikings rollercoaster matchups. But this time, Cousins wasn’t up for the task of closing out the opponent. 

In various 2021 games — at Cincinnati, at Arizona, versus Detroit, at Carolina, at Los Angeles, and versus Green Bay — Cousins delivered with the game on the line. He flat-out did. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. 

However, because the notion he would win MVP is freakish for some NFL pundits, Cousins must be perfect most of the time to erase stereotypes associated with him. His bar to enter MVP talks is higher than most. Therefore, authoring another fourth-quarter comeback or game-winning drive in The Bay was required for Cousins-as-MVP chatter to really grow legs. 

On Sunday Night Football, Lamar Jackson tossed four interceptions to just one touchdown. Nobody cared about his struggles. He’s protected in the NFL’s bubble of empathy. Cousins is not, so he has to be marvelous all of the time to prove he’s worthy of credit. Hell, the Ravens even won by six points over the wayward Cleveland Browns in spite of Jackson’s futility. 

The Vikings, as a team, don’t ever do that Cousins — and probably never will. Since 2018, the Vikings are 0-6 in games when Cousins delivered two or more picks. Jackson coasted to a win over the Cleveland Browns — a good football team — after four turnovers. Bizarre.

Cousins had an MVP moment in his grasps. In his defense, he’s created a few such moments already in 2021. Yet, he needed another one in California on Sunday, especially because MVPs need winning records for the team’s sake.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

Share: