Kirk Cousins sets a Vikings record during Sunday’s win
By Chris Schad
Kirk Cousins has done his part for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, throwing for over 4,000 yards and setting the team’s single-season completion record.
Kirk Cousins came to the Minnesota Vikings last March and thanks to his fully-guaranteed contract, the expectations set by the team’s fans were sky high when he first put on a purple jersey this year.
While some fans may bicker about the contract and Cousins’ tendency to run hot and cold, the veteran quarterback has done his job statistically. On Sunday, he surpassed the 4,000 yard mark for the fourth-straight year and he set the franchise record for completions in a single season during the Vikings’ 27-9 victory over the Detroit Lions.
Cousins’ yardage total came after a performance against the Lions that saw him throw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Although his totals on Sunday were boosted by a 44-yard Hail Mary at the end of the first half to Kyle Rudloph, his 2018 totals have depicted an ability to carry Minnesota’s offense when needed.
Cousins has now thrown for 4,166 yards on the season to go with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. With those numbers, he has now has thrown for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in each of the past four years, a feat that had been accomplished by just three Vikings quarterbacks prior to this season.
In addition to eclipsing the 4,000 yard mark on Sunday, Cousins also set a new franchise record for completions in a single season with 405.
That total has also been inflated by former offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s pass-happy tendencies early in the year. But Cousins has also been efficient for Minnesota this season, completing his passes at what would be a career-high clip of 70.5 percent.
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The Vikings’ current quarterback would go a long way in silencing his detractors next week by helping the team pick up a victory over the Chicago Bears and clinching a playoff spot. However, in judging by statistics alone, it appears that Cousins has done a very good job during his first season in a Minnesota uniform.