Nobody expected the Minnesota Vikings to upset the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon, but after a roller coaster 60 minutes, they were able to execute their best drive of the season, leading to a 26-20 win to advance to the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
While the shock of the Vikings coming through in the clutch is just settling in, the aftershock may be even bigger surrounding the performance of Kirk Cousins. The Vikings quarterback has been known not to step up in big moments, but with a 43-yard completion to Adam Thielen and a touchdown strike to Kyle Rudolph, Cousins played the part of the hero and picked up his first playoff victory.
GAME. WINNER!
Incredible shot of the catch that sent the Vikings to the next round!!
(via @Vikings) pic.twitter.com/QfRAGy87nv
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 5, 2020
Understandably, the post-game interview swirled about Cousins’ performance in overtime, but he quickly deflected to the team’s accomplishment of winning a game that few predicted the Vikings to win.
Cousins wasn’t able to dodge his own narrative in the locker room, however, as he was mobbed by his teammates.
As head coach Mike Zimmer asked Cousins what it was like to win a playoff game, Cousins addressed the team and broke it down with his famous catchphrase, “YOU LIKE THAT?”
.@KirkCousins8 with the "YOU LIKE THAT" in the #Vikings lockerroom
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4hnZLit6Iz
— Andy Mac (@ItsAndyMac_) January 5, 2020
– Listen to Paul Allen’s call of the Vikings’ game-winning touchdown.
Cousins’ catchphrase was born during his time in Washington where he led a major comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October 2015 and letting the media (who had criticized Cousins during the early portion of his career) know he was fired up while walking toward the locker room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqCfWzMOZpA
There’s a great chance that Viking fans liked what they saw from Cousins on Sunday as he threw for 242 yards to go with the game-winning score. What Viking fans would really like is if Cousins can keep this play going as they head to San Francisco next weekend to take on the top-seeded 49ers.
