How Kirk Cousins can finally change the narrative in 2022
By Luke Parrish
Cousins can control the first quarter of the season
Minnesota starts the season with several enticing matchups that will show exactly who this team is and where they stand in the NFC. The Vikings open their season with a home game against the Green Bay Packers, which is slated to be the FOX “Game of the Week” at 3:25pm CT.
Right away, Kirk Cousins has a chance to set the tone with a win over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to seize control of the NFC North. The talk all offseason has been about the Vikings finally catching Green Bay and being the team to beat in the division. Winning the first matchup of the season would be huge for Cousins and the Vikings.
They follow that up with a road game on “Monday Night Football” against an NFC playoff foe. The Philadelphia Eagles host the Vikings in a matchup that likely features two teams that will be battling for a wild card spot at the end of the season and could be a huge deciding factor in the final standings.
Philadephia has added a ton of talent this offseason and will be a tough squad to beat on the road in a hostile environment. Once again, Cousins can make a statement by leading the Vikings to a tough win.
Another divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions in Week 3 is big for Minnesota, especially after dropping a game to the Lions last season. Detroit isn’t the toughest matchup for Minnesota, but with London on the schedule the next week, it could be a trap game.
The New Orleans Saints will “host” the Vikings in an international matchup in Week 4 that features two teams that hope to get back to the playoffs after a down year. The Saints have added plenty of talent to a strong roster in the NFC, while the Vikings have attacked the necessary spots on the roster.
London is always a tough trip for all parties and the result of that game is not always indicative of a team’s strengths and weaknesses. However, Minnesota will be in the spotlight once again, with the entire world watching Kirk Cousins dual Jameis Winston in yet another crucial matchup.
The first quarter of the season will be full of challenges that the Vikings have to handle if they want to be a true contender at the end of the year. Can they take care of business during arguably the toughest stretch of the season?