So often derided by the national press for his performance in prime-time games, Kirk Cousins is now being showered with praise after the Vikings’ 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Cousins’ night got off to a bad start with an early interception that fortunately didn’t prove costly as Christian McCaffrey fumbled a short time later, but from then on he was lights out, going 35-for-45 for 378 yards and two touchdowns.
He proved particularly clutch on third downs, going 8-for-13 including the first touchdown to Jordan Addison.
As the game progressed and the Vikings kept the 49ers at bay, ESPN’s announcing team of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck gushed about the Vikings’ signal caller, with Aikman at one point calling him “one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL.”
“You walk out of this game, you know, just raving about Kirk Cousins,” Buck added as the game neared its end.
“They got a great performance from the quarterback without Justin Jefferson,” Aikman said after the game. “Jordan Addison came in and did things he’s simply not shown, came in and was terrific … this is something [the Vikings] can definitely build on.”
There was plenty of praise from other national talking heads, with “Undisputed” host Skip Bayless tweeting: “Without Justin Jefferson, that just might’ve been the best game I ever watched Kirk Cousins play. Congrats, sir.”
Cousins’ former Washington teammate Robert Griffin III had this to say about those who urged the Vikings to trade Cousins after the team’s 1-4 start:
Kirk Cousins just gave everyone who said the Vikings should trade him the proverbial middle finger with a 378 passing yard 2 TD performance against one of the best defenses in the NFL. He BALLED and shoutout to the O-Line. 45 passes and 0 sacks against a ferocious pass rush.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) October 24, 2023
There were similar sentiments elsewhere following the Vikings’ stunning upset win.
Imagine not wanting Kirk Cousins as your quarterback.
— Dominique Clare (@DomClare) October 24, 2023
Kirk Cousins killed it tonight. I'm not going to lie to you.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) October 24, 2023
Kirk Cousins killed ALOT of Narratives tonight.
-Bad Against Good Defenses
-Can’t Play On MNF
-Product Of Weapons
-Bad Pocket Movement8 IS THAT GUY. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/NUAUUvYbfh
— 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙚 (@verysadvikings) October 24, 2023
