4 takeaways from the play of Kirk Cousins vs. the Browns in Week 4

Cousins final drive check-downs

With the Minnesota Vikings needing a touchdown to tie things up on the final drive, Kirk Cousins took what the defense gave him and settled for a mini-hail mary into the end zone in an attempt to force overtime.

This can be perceived in two ways.

Cousins was trying to get closer for one last shot on the final play, or he was a little too cautious in his approach in the lead-up to this pivotal moment.

Either way, it didn’t have the required result as the Cleveland Browns remained resolute to continue their positive recent momentum. Leaving the Vikings staring at a 1-3 start and the team’s postseason hopes dwindling.

There is a long way to go, and Cousins is playing well enough for the Vikings to make a better go of things moving forward. But this game will be seen as one that got away in pursuit of making a real statement.

At least on the face of things, Cousins’ final stats weren’t terrible.

However, the final result is all that matters.

The margin for error is now incredibly slim for Cousins and the Vikings, who go into next weekend’s game as heavy favorites against their NFC North rivals. And make no mistake, losing is not an option.