With hopes of getting their first win of the season on Sunday, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings couldn't have started their day any worse against the Carolina Panthers.
During their first offensive drive of the matchup, the Vikings faced a 3rd-and-Goal from the Panthers' five-yard line. Cousins took the snap and fired a pass to his left in the direction of Minnesota wide receiver K.J. Osborn.
This is when disaster struck as Carolina safety Sam Franklin intercepted the pass on the one-yard line and proceeded to return it 99 yards the other way for a Panthers touchdown.
Sam Franklin from the one-yard line. 99-yard Pick-6 for Carolina!
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
📺: #MINvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/8FIfPD1zDh
After Franklin was able to pick off the pass, Cousins immediately sprinted back to try and prevent a touchdown return. Unfortunately, his efforts came up short when he was demolished by a block from Carolina defensive back D'Shawn Jamison.
Kirk Cousins lmfao
— Man I'm On Break.... (@BaylanXShin) October 1, 2023
I'm dying pic.twitter.com/B3QhFFiHqc
It's just the latest example of Minnesota shooting themselves in the foot this season. The Vikings really just can't get out of their own way this year, and it's why they haven't been able to win a game yet.
The Athletic's Diana Russini reported on Sunday that Minnesota isn't "punting on the season" despite their 0-3 start to the year. But the Vikings might want to reconsider if they continue to play as poorly as they have this season.