Minnesota Vikings 2018 Review: Grading the offense
By Chris Schad
Quarterback
Throughout the year, Vikings fans were divided on whether or not Kirk Cousins was worth his $84 million contract.
While Cousins wasn’t able to get the team to the Super Bowl (let alone the playoffs) in his first season in Minnesota, the 30-year-old quarterback was as advertised in 2018.
As he had done during his time in Washington, Cousins was able to put up franchise quarterback stats for the Vikings. With 4,298 yards passing and 30 touchdowns, 2018 was the fourth straight season in which Cousins had thrown for 4,000 yards and at least 25 touchdowns.
He was also the fourth player in Minnesota’s franchise history to accomplish this feat along with Warren Moon in 1995, Daunte Culpepper in 2004, and Brett Favre in 2009.
In addition to the yards and touchdowns, Cousins threw just 10 interceptions for the Vikings, which was his lowest total since becoming a full-time starter in 2015. He also set the franchise’s single-season completion record with 425 while also posting a career-high 70.2 completion percentage.
Stats were something that made Cousins a hot commodity for Minnesota in March, but he also failed to prove his detractors wrong with putrid performances in must-win games against the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
He also couldn’t improvise when needed and struggled behind a Vikings offensive line that allowed a ton of quarterback pressures in 2018.
Mix in a lack of pocket presence that led to nine fumbles and Cousins first season in Minnesota had some good and bad moments. For many that expected him to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl, 2018 was a failure and the big contract will not be worth it until he steps up in the future.