5 most surprising Minnesota Vikings stats of the 2019 season
By Dustin Baker
Kirk Cousins had a passer rating of 108.0 on third down in 2019.
On third down last season, Kirk Cousins was deadly. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.
Here are some of his quarterback peers’ passer ratings on third down in 2019:
- Deshaun Watson (105.5)
- Dak Prescott (101.1)
- Drew Brees (100.6)
- Russell Wilson (98.2)
- Carson Wentz (96.0)
- Aaron Rodgers (87.2)
- Tom Brady (84.2)
These comparative numbers speak for themselves. Twenty-seven percent of Cousins’ passing yards accrued on third down along with a nine touchdown, two interception split.
As more of an incremental improvement metric, the Viking as a whole improved tremendously on third down. In 2018, the Vikings ranked twenty-sixth in the NFL in third-down conversions. This surged to ninth in the NFL this past season.
Prior to the acquisition of Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings ranked fourteenth in the NFL (2014-2017) third-down conversion percentage. So, the 2019 spike should be perceived as one of drastic improvement. It also helps to have a mostly-healthy Dalvin Cook.