The national sports media talking heads are not impressed with Kirk Cousins, it seems.
On the same day Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho didn’t have the Vikings QB on his list of the top five NFC quarterbacks, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smtih also snubbed Cousins.
While Stephen A. had Jalen Hurts as his No. 1 NFC QB like Acho, his list differed in that 49ers QB Brock Purdy came in at No. 2. Purdy was left off Acho’s list entirely.
Purdy played seven games and threw for more than 240 yards just once in five starts against some of the worst defenses in the league last season. Sure, Purdy did go undefeated in his starts but that was against just one top 10 defense and only two top 20 defenses.
“He’s coached by Kyle Shanahan. He’s got Deebo Samuels and George Kittle,” said Smith. Did Smith forget that Cousins throws to the best receiver in the game and a tight end who was second – behind only Travis Kelce – in receptions and yards among tight ends in 2022?
“I left Kirk Cousins out of the list on purpose,” Smith reasoned. “I’m tired of bloviating and talking about him, and praising him during the regular season only for him to fold like a cheap tent when the playoffs arrive.”
Yet Dak Prescott, despite his embarrassing playoff exits the past two seasons, is No. 4 on Smith’s list.
“He is playing for the Star. He is playing for the Dallas Cowboys. There is an enormous amount of pressure that comes with the responsibility,” he continued.
Geno Smith came in at No. 5 with the First Take commentator praising Smith’s nearly 70% completion percentage last season. When looking at the numbers a little deeper, Smith connected on 73% of his passes during Seattle’s 6-3 start to the season, with that number dropping to 66% during Seattle’s 3-5 finish.
And for the record, Cousins and the Vikings swept Goff and the Lions and finished with 13 wins, including eight fourth quarter comebacks led by Cousins.
