Kirk Cousins Weekly Report Card: Week 4 vs. the Texans

Decision Making

Let’s do some nitpicking.

With just about three minutes to go in the game, the Vikings led 31-23. Minnesota possessed the ball offensively, and a third-down was on the docket. A first down would not necessarily ice the game, but it would have come damn close.

On 3rd-and-6, Kirk Cousins took the snap and fired down the sideline to a sprinting Adam Thielen. The pass attempt was unusually deep for a 3rd-and-6 situation, but Cousins wanted the glory.

The pass fell incomplete as it was underthrown.

The 32-year-old quarterback could have played it safe and looked for a pass-catcher who was closer to the first-down marker. Instead, Cousins had grander plans. It was the type of decision that is heralded after the fact had the throw been delivered on target. But, it wasn’t.

And that was about it for questionable decisions on his behalf. The rest was fantastic as evidenced by the Vikings offense humming and escaping Houston with a win.

Grade: A-