Kirk Cousins Weekly Review: Week 2 vs. the Indianapolis Colts

Low No. 1

Tunnel vision

This specifically applies to wideout Adam Thielen. It was understood that the Vikings offense would be divergent from 2019 when general manager Rick Spielman sent wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills last March. Life after Diggs was discussed ad nauseam by pundits and fans, so any shock surrounding his departure had over five months to dissipate.

Through two weeks of Vikings football, the seamlessness of a transition to a Diggs-less aerial attack has been muddled. Kirk Cousins has targeted Thielen 16 times in two games. As a standalone stat, this is nowhere near alarming. Yet, his other two primary pass-catchers, Bisi Johnson and Justin Jefferson, have been thrown at just 13 times.

Thielen was targeted with abundance in Indianapolis and the result was lusterless. He finished with three catches for 31 yards in the 28-11 loss. Cousins did not involve other receivers in the passing game while the Colts defense inherently knew the ball was going in Thielen’s direction.

It was not a successful strategy.