4 takeaways from the play of Kirk Cousins vs. the Browns in Week 4
By Dean Jones
Cousins didn’t get enough from the running game
Two big factors behind the play of Kirk Cousins this season have been a strong running game and a much-improved offensive line. Sadly for the quarterback, neither were really on show in Week 4.
It didn’t help that Dalvin Cook was clearly hampered by an ankle injury that restricted him to just nine carries for 34 rushing yards. Backup Alexander Mattison also found life difficult making an impression against a stout Cleveland Browns defensive front en route to 20 yards from 10 touches.
Cook’s ability in the passing game is something else Cousins missed. The Pro Bowler brought in just two of six targets for 10 yards, which piled more pressure on others to get the Minnesota Vikings moving.
This could just be a bump in the road depending on how Cook heals up between now and when Minnesota takes on the Detroit Lions in Week 5. There is more than enough evidence to support this theory through the first three games before things turned sour at U.S. Bank Stadium.
It wasn’t exactly ideal for Cousins, especially due to the previous issues mentioned with Adam Thielen. Despite all this and the run defense giving up a ton of yardage to the phenomenal tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the former Michigan State star almost pulled it off at the death.