5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys – Week 11
By Chris Schad
Dallas will pressure Cousins on at least 40 percent of his drop-backs
While Kirk Cousins has led the Vikings to six fourth-quarter, game-winning drives this season, he has done so in spite of his offensive line.
Cousins has been pressured on just over 35 percent of his dropbacks this season, which ranks 10th among qualifying quarterbacks this season. In addition, Cousins has been pressured on 40 percent or more of his dropbacks in three of his past four games. That number is dangerously close to four straight after Cousins was pressured on 39.3 percent of his dropbacks in the win over Buffalo.
This is a bad trend facing a Dallas defense that loves to bring pressure. Micah Parsons is the NFL’s top-graded “Front Seven” player, according to Pro Football Focus, and the Cowboys’ defense, as a whole, ranks first with a 40.8 percent pressure rate.
With Christian Darrisaw working his way through the NFL’s concussion protocol, the Vikings might have trouble stopping the Dallas pass rush. If that happens, Vikings fans will hope that Cousins is ready to reprise his “Kirko Chainz” alter ego.