Sep 19, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
If you’re of the adamant opinion the Minnesota Vikings should’ve kept pushing the ball toward the Arizona Cardinals’ goal-line with less than a minute to go yesterday, you might have an unsung ally in your camp.
His name is Kirk Cousins.
Asked on Sunday about his thoughts of attempting a game-winning field goal – that ultimately missed and lost the game – Cousins replied to reporters: “I think you still want to get as many [yards] as you can, be greedy and get all you can, so that you’re not asking too much of somebody.”
In retrospect – the glory of Monday morning quarterbacking – the Vikings should have pounded down toward the endzone, scoffing at their situation on the 19-yardline. Minnesota’s offense was responsible for three touchdowns against the Cardinals, albeit mostly in the first half. When the game was on the line – just like last week at the Cincinnati Bengals – Cousins delivered, plopping his team in a spot to win the game. Both times, Vikings players not named Cousins gaffed away the win.
Based on his quote, it seems Cousins is becoming more acclimated with Vikinigsim, a sorrow derived from outlandishly depressing culminations to some games. He wanted the greed in Arizona. Instead, and with the knowledge of losing after the fact, he would’ve kept grinding for a touchdown, leaving no insane field goal miss to chance.
The only problem is his coach disagreed with him.
Zimmer was rightfully scarred from last week when the Vikings wanted to get closer to kicker Greg Joseph’s field goal range. How did that end up? Well, Dalvin Cook fumbled the ball (or so they say), and the Vikings lost. Period. The team fell to 0-1.
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To learn from the mistakes of last week, Zimmer was going to kick the damn thing – a chip shot – disabling the possibility of an interception or fumble. But he trusted the untested kicker too much, evidently.
Joseph bungled the 37-yard kick, and now the Vikings are 0-2 with Russell Wilson next on the agenda. This is a very rotten beginning to a season for Zimmer, who faces a tell-all campaign. The merits of 2021 will likely determine his long-term fate in Minnesota. He’s not off to a good start.
Even when Zimmer tries to be cutting edge in similar situations, heartbreak seeps into the outcome. Just like the Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 2, Zimmer was given a decision against the – you guessed it – Seahawks last year to go for it on 4th and short and win the game in Emerald City. As Lamar Jackson did last night, Minnesota ran the ball, but tailback Alexander Mattison inexplicably missed a hole, fell short, and handed the ball back to Wilson and the Seahawks for a game-winning drive.
Zimmer lost when he played it gutsy in 2020. Zimmer lost when played it safe in 2021.
This is Vikings football.
Now, Cousins might have a bit more influence on these decisions in the remaining 15 games. The 33-year-old is playing like a madman who banned turnovers from his game. Cousins has dimed five touchdown passes to no interceptions and no lost fumbles. If Cook doesn’t fumble in Ohio and Joseph does his job in Arizona, Cousins would be whispered in MVP chatter right now.
Yet, that’s not the way it goes.
Vikings fans would prefer Cousins get his way with more “greed” by the team on offense, especially when the game is on the line. Even when Mattison ruined the 4th and 1 effort last season, Zimmer was championed for his decision-making, a rarity from Vikings fans.
So, the pendulum is probably swinging back toward risk-happy behavior for Zimmer. Playing it safe while trying a very reasonable field goal didn’t work. Souls were ripped from bodies on couches, in fact.
The Vikings seem doomed in those situations anyway – why not take the bold path just for bravado? Cousins recommends it.
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).