Why Vikings QB Kirk Cousins isn’t getting enough MVP consideration
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins quietly ranks near the top of the NFL in several passing categories, and yet his name is rarely mentioned in discussions for league MVP.
NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt vehemently disagrees with that notion, passionately making a pretty strong case for Cousins to garner more love in MVP talks.
“Cousins in the middle of the season is setting an NFL record for fourth quarter comebacks,” Brandt stated on a recent episode of “Good Morning Football.” “Cousins’ fourth quarter stats are astronomical. Kirk Cousins has fewer interceptions than Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. …No quarterback in the past 20 years is getting hit more than Cousins, yet he is 12-3, his (top) wide receiver is on pace to break Megatron’s (receiving) record.
"Justin Jefferson is an excellent player, so is Davante Adams the last couple of years when the MVP was handed to Aaron Rodgers like it was no big deal. …Turn on Cousins with fresh eyes on a Sunday and make sure it’s in the fourth quarter when quarterbacks really show who they are, you will not see a quarterback playing better in the entire NFL in the biggest moments. The stats bore it out, the eye tests bears it out and there is still no love for him.”
Cousins leads the NFL with eight fourth-quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives — both single-season NFL records, and both three more than the next closest QB in both categories.
He also ranks third in the league in pass attempts (592) and first downs via pass (210), fourth in touchdown passes (27) and on-target throws (430), fifth in passing yards (4,117), and 13th in passer rating (93.3).
While his offensive numbers stand out on their own, they’re all the more impressive given that Cousins is the most pressured (157) and most hit (78) QB in the league, and he’s blitzed the third most times (151).
More must-reads: