Why Kirk Cousins Is Ridiculously Underrated 

Kirk cousins had a very quiet good year. I remember in week 11 he was at 24 TD and 3 ints and like nobody was really talking about him. Individually 2021 has been his best season.

Every year Kirk is usually around the top 10 spot, sometimes top 7. Thats better than 22- 25 other starters at QB. No one said he's Brady but he's one hell of a lot better than he's made out to be.

Many people look at him as a daniel jones,Andy dalton,ryan tannehill,Jimmy G type of QB. Bro is so underrated big Kirko

From a Vikes fan, he may not be the answer, but he's definitely not the problem. Especially last year. Our defense pissed away so many leads.

He’s one of those QBs we will look back 20 years from now and ask why he couldn’t achieve more team success despite his great stats.

And now this man captained the largest comeback in history! Give this man the respect he deserves!

For Kirk Cousins the Stars have to align perfectly for him to make any Super bowl. Just like any other Franchise Quarterback.

The thing that everyone fails to mention when they bring up the 2020 season and the 2021 season is that the defense lost us most of the games these past two seasons. The offense did enough to win the games, but the defense would give up the victory somewhere in the last two minutes. I'm truly glad that Cousins is our QB. Now that we have a HC that gives a fuck about him, I'm excited to see what our offense does in 2022. SKOL!

I remember at the end of RG III's first year I was telling everyone I would trade him and keep Kirk Cousins. This guy is seriously underrated. He is Top 10 in league for sure. I maintain he gets so much hate from the football world because of his low draft position and people refuse to see him as anything other than a low rounder who got lucky. He's a baller. Not his fault his teams defenses are almost always ranked 20th or lower.

He’s arguably top 10. In that Dak, Carr, Murray territory

first of all thanks for the vid, exactly my points, super hyped for the next season, its make or break now

Great video. I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan but I've always liked Kirk Cousins. I hope he surprises the league with 30+ TDs 4000+ yd season!!!

Kirk is the definition of a Great QB without the clutch factor that the Mount Rushmore QBs have.

It's just a shame that Cousins success is measured by the defense's failures. So many close games were lost in 2021 that could have been wins, had the defense been able to stop anyone. Cousins would orchestrate unbelievable scoring drives, late in the game. Just to have the defense piss it away. Zimmer's defensive prowess was an abysmal failure when he lost the ear of his players.

Thanks for covering the Vikings

Kirk was clutch in almost all of the games last year and the defense gave up more points than we put up usually making it come down to the Last possession... and the play calling was conservative at best with the 26th rated offensive line and 22nd rated defense maybe 28th it's really terrible.. Zimmer threw a wrench 🔧 into the offensive scheme we should have seen..

Cousins career so far is similar to Stafford. Stafford was seen as not being very special and a garbage time god to pad his stats for most of his career until he got to the Rams. Cousins is much more accurate and doesn't have as strong of an arm, but overall I think he is better than Stafford. When it comes down to it, the Vikings have not had a good coaching staff, good O line, and their defense has deteriorated every year since they signed Cousins. The win/loss record is not his fault. It is a product of bad coaching/bad defense. I'm hoping the Vikings new head coach will get it right. As their roster is right now they have to win shootouts and you can't do that by running on first and second down every time you have a lead. That kind of strategy only lets the opposition back in the game. The Vikings could have been a playoff team the past few seasons if the coaching staff had kept the foot on the gas on offense to put the game away instead of trying to keep the game close and have a shoddy defense win it.

Man Kirk this season (2023) before his Achilles tear he was leading the NFL with 20 TDs. He absolutely would’ve led the nfl in a couple passing stats if he didn’t get hurt. He was balling out

Kirk is already changing his narrative, 9-2 so far with 7 game winning drives this year! He's the reason Minnesota is winning this year!

Let's not forget our HC worked with him in Washington. Our HC is excited about it so it must mean something. The chemistry is there already

Everyone has a perception of cousins from his Washington days and his first couple of years in Minnesota but he’s been a far better qb the last couple of years and no one wants to believe it because they are still stuck in the past.

Kirk led the nfl in 4th quarter touchdown passes when down by only one score. By definition that’s clutch.

This aged well

"he isn't a top 10 QB, but the tier just out side looking in..." There are only 32 QBs, so if he is not top 10, he is middle of the pack - average. I think the consensus is the he is above average (but not elite). Exactly where you placed him, not ridiculously underrated. The problem fans have is not his ability, it is his pay. He is not elite, he can not carry the team, but he is paid like it. That means the team can not afford to surround him with the talent HE needs to make a run. So the Vikings are stuck until they dump him, or he takes a pay cut (HA!).

I didn't see an argument that shows that he is underrated. The issue is Kirk is a game-manager who gets paid as an elite QB, that's the issue.

He always seems to have good talent. But his O-line and defense have been rough in Minnesota.

Cousin's scramble for the first down with 7:00 left in the 2nd, taking on the Jets best linebacker head on was vicious. For them.

This aged very good actually

Cousins is definitely not underrated. Any sensible NFL fan knows how TALENTED he is. He's simply not a Big-game player, and sucks in the clutch. Great regular season QB, but I'd take Eli/Flacco any day over him in a big game

Kirk doesn't pass the eye test, it's that simple. He doesn't step up in big moments and he just has stats that you can look back on after the fact. Like when Matt Schaub would throw for 4900 yards every season and finish 7-9.

I knew he would be good the second I saw him at Michigan State

His records looking better now!

I've been saying this about kirk for like 3 years and this is my top ten

We could say whatever we want about Captain Kirk, he know how to get Paid!😏

If the Vikings had a good and healthy defense it would be great and we would go to the playoffs. Our secondary is just straight dog and Smith can only do so much.

Kirk is top ten for sure! Look at what Cooper Rush is doing for Dallas. Not the talent of Dak but he is winning because he does what is asked and not trying to do too much. Kirk is the same way but a better talent. And Kirk is never hurt, knock on wood. If Stafford can win a SB, Kirk can. The defense was and is still the weakness of the Vikings.

I heard a bold prediction on the local sports radio today, Vikings and Packers in the NFC championship game.

8 comeback victories this year with a lot of help from JJ but people will only remember that last pass short of the sticks. Another season pissed away by poor defense. Kirk fuggin Thuggins needs more respect

Time to turn the boat around with the FALCONS!

Swap Garoppolo with Cousins and 49ers win that Superbowl.

That’s my f’n QB. Kirko chains is the man. Jefferson and Kirko will make some noise this year for sure

he sure knows how to choke he is a pro at that period

Kirks a great qb he doesn’t loose you games.

Are Defence was exhausted by the end of the half and game because of all our three and outs. We Led the NFL. That is what the stats you never hear about tell us.

DUDE!!! HE MADE THE PRO BOWL AS AN ALTERNATE!!! WHEN BETTER QB'S SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PLAY. STATS LIVES MATTER!!!!

Best QBs are the ones that can run the 2 minute offense flawlessly. They're the one's with ice water running in their veins. They get the victory in close games.

Really, a guy who throws a 3yd passe on 4th and 8 to go one and out in the playoffs once again is underrated. Pure comedy.

“Fu** Kirk, C’Mon throw the ball” -Justin Jefferson 😂😂😂 Enough said and example of who Kirk is!

Well a dream of winning a Super Bowles is a big thing so Kirk Cousins it's up to you to make them good fast throws, hand offs and maybe a run from you Kirk. You can do this.

If Kirk wasn’t our QB, we win a maximum of 4 games the last four years. In 2021, the Vikings 2 minute defense was the worst 2 minute defense since 2000. But kirks fault

Blaming one guy for not winning is why your not winning!

Frank Tarkenton is right up there with Berry Bradshaw and Rob Griese as the best qbs of 70s

Swap cousins and stafford and the rams still win sb, maybe even have a better season.

Well put, people where so quick to rag on him last year when we had the 31st ranked defense in the league and a suspect O line at best. I'd even wager he breaks top 10 QBs if only at 10.

You’re my favorite quarterback I wish I was a good quarterback like you, my friend always You’re my favorite all the time❤❤😂🎉😢😮😅😊❤❤❤❤❤

Kirk can't blame a bad win loss year on anyone else this year he has everything he needs to make the playoffs, now we will see. Blessings to all

My oh my.. We will see SKOL

Ahh, The biggest Choke machine........

A lot of people don't realize that since becoming The Vikings starter in 2018 Kirk is 3-3-1 against Rodgers head to head. In those games he's averaged 268yds, 66.8% completion, 2.1 TD's/0.71 INT, and 106.4 passer rating. In those same games Rodgers has averaged 278yds, 67.2% completion, 2.1 TD's/0.14 INT, and 106.8 passer rating. Better yes but not a monumental difference there...

Also add in he's had a new offensive coordinator every year since being with the vikings!

I think there's a huge difference between saying a qb sucks and a qb is not clutch. Any moron who says Kirk sucks doesn't know football. To say he's not clutch? That's a an adult conversation. I see Kirk in that Tony Romo up until recently Matt Stafford, and even Dak Prescott and Derek Carr. Very good qbs that for not having great teams around them or just bad luck haven't had the success their stats suggest they should.

Ko punch 👊 is going to make us a high flying offense and a new revamped defensive scheme with 2 of the best pass rushing Animals in the world 🌎

im so tired of people saying he cant win in the playoffs. thats true for so many qbs but thays never a critivism. dak murray carr herbert lamar etc...

Man RGIII was a generational talent. Sucks his greatness ended as fast as it started with that knee injury… I remember watching his comeback game and seeing his knee snap on the last step of his drop back in his own end zone for that safety and it was one of the worst things I’ve seen in the nfl. Seeing a gruesome cringey injury and at the same time seeing a generational talents career end.

I don’t know how I got almost all the way through this before it clicked that this guy resides in Minnesota. The moment he referred to Kevin O’Connell as koc you know he’s a homer.

If we get are defense together and and O-Line that can actually protect Cousins we'd have a great season, and kirk can show hes real colors but without the Defense and O-Line idk

I am convinced KOC is the long lost grandson of Bud Grant. The resemblance is uncanny.

As a Vikings fan, I have absolutely no problem with Kirk being our starter for the rest of his career. He was 33-7 with Zimmer and Klint Kubiak calling plays… I’m excited to see the outcome with a coaching staff that actually wants to score points.

Being as I am Viking fan and also a Chicago Cubs fan. I can give a little perspective on Kirk Cousins and how it relates to the Cubs. While it's true that Kirk Cousins stats are eye popping. And comparing them to Rogers and Brady. He is right there with them. Incredible numbers HOF worthy. But he's a company guy. He doesn't go out of his way to lead his teammates. Wich isn't bad. He's just not as likely to get a lot of support from his teammates. They don't see him as their leader. How that relates to the Cubs is actually it comes from their TV broadcaster in the booth Harry Carey. He said while talking about Barry Bonds one time. Barry is probably the best power hitter in the league. Meaning the he was the best power hitter at the time. He talked about all his other abilities as well. Then Harry said, " You know getting a lot of Home runs is always good. But it's not how many home runs you get that makes the difference. Its when you get the home runs that makes the difference." That describes Kirk Cousins. Because if you dig deep into his stats you'll see he is like Stafford. To where a good portion of his stats come in trash time. He's not getting the home runs at the right time. Hopefully, and I feel like 2022 - 2023 for Kirk will also be like Stafford and he will finally win it all. With the new coaching staff the Vikings have in KOC as head coach. I would hope he not only win the Super Bowl. But win Super Bowl MVP. That by the way won't be an easy task being as he has JJ and Dalvin Cook on his team. Because both are capable of taking over the game.

Kirk Cousins isn't escaping the narrative that he's a quarterback who can't win, unless he at least gets Minnesota to a Super Bowl. Those who like criticizing Cousins will find his failures and ignore the accomplishments. Cousins was very good last season. The Vikings had the fewest interceptions in the NFL, and it wasn't because he was checking down. Cousins' AY/A (adjusted yards per attempt, a Pro Football Reference stat) was 8.1, sixth in the NFL. His Pro Football Focus passing grade was fourth among all quarterbacks. He gets blame for the Vikings not making a deep playoff run, and some of that is justified. He also wasn't responsible for a defense last season that gave up yards in bulk. He's typecast as a QB who isn't good enough to lead his team anywhere. Unfair or not, that's how he'll be remembered unless he and the Vikings change it. Defensively, the Vikings will be shifting to a 3-4 look with new coordinator Ed Donatell, a 31-year NFL veteran, though Donatell said the team will use multiple looks up front. The Vikings defense had surprisingly cratered under Mike Zimmer, finishing 30th in yards allowed last season, but there's still talent. It starts with safety Harrison Smith, who O'Connell called "the perfect player for the defensive structure we want to play," in terms of versatility and disguising coverages. There are a couple of impact pass rushers in Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter, good interior defenders and a solid inside linebacker in Eric Kendricks. There will be a transition period for the Vikings defense but perhaps the changes will have a quick and positive impact. ~ctto~

Honestly, I kind of feel the reason why Cousins gets so much hate is the contract he signed to play with the Vikings, and then allegedly "conning" the Vikings with his play. Before anyone starts shouting or throwing sharp objects, put yourself in Cousins' shoes. If you were given a fully guaranteed contract, and you have a family to feed, would you refuse? (Anyone who dares mention Tom Brady, get out, you clearly do not know that Brady is NOT the primary breadwinner of his family.) The real villain that deserves the blame is former Vikings GM Rick Spielman, cause if not for him drafting that fully guaranteed contract, maybe this would have been a non-issue.

You like that! You like that!

Diggs wanted out of Minnesota because of Cousins. Diggs loved Case and his leadership skills. Something Kirk will never have.

The only people that hate Kirk are people who thinks wins are a quarterback stats

Yeah definitely because I don't really hear anything about the Vikings the only thing hear is about is Justin Jefferson and also I dont know what the issue with the Minnesota Vikings as far as being Super Bowl Contenders

He’s not underrated to the guys on the Vikings paying him. If he took a pay cut then he could be in the conversation for underrated.

"how to piss off two schools at once" correct lol

Stafford is still Stafford. In the two games we played against him. He’s throw picks in everyone. Granted we have a ball hawk in quandre diggs but still

Brady had 24 TDs over 4k yards in his last year with the PATs.

Minnesota has all the weapons. Kirk Kuzo, JJ, Theilen, Cook, Hockenson, Reagor, Osborn, a good o-line and d-line, Za'Darius, The Hitman, Pat P, Kendricks, Hicks, Hunter... the list goes on. Solid team that could beat any team in the NFL. There's no team in the NfL that I'm like....they are going to smoke the Vikings. None. They have every piece they need to make serious a run at it and smoke anybody that they play. They just have to execute and get 'er done. SKOL!!!

The biggest problem I always had with Kirk, is that he's not clutch. If you put the ball in his hands to make a game winning drive, 9 out of 10 times you'll be handed a loss.

Kirk is not underrated. Hes exactly where he should be in the QB grade. Hes just enough to be good enough to not get traded but bot good enough to win big games. Hes a .500 QB. Perioddd

Wake me up when he shows up in a playoff game.

One of the best offenses in the league year after year n he can't win the games that matter ! Much less a playoff game! He's really good but there a thin line between really good n great

Vikes need a o line I can't remember last time they ever had a good o line

I liked kirk wish we still had him..well maybe not..I think carson will out play him..a co worker of mine is cousins with Paul O'Neal (his tackle) I'm trying to get her to get Kirk's autograph

Anybody notice when he shouted out darrishaw he put the Virginia cavaliers mascot instead of Virginia tech 😂

Vikings about to give this man a 4 year $160 million fully guaranteed contract.

Psalms 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

All of your stats tell me how many of those yards came in the fourth against soft coverages

Kirk is definitely a top 10 QB that closing statement of he isn’t is pretty rough.

commenting in november 19,2022 and the viking are 8-1 and just beat the best team in nfl right now the bills. This video is a hundred percent correct.

Arm talent? Yes. He can make pretty much every throw. Problem is, he often times has a deer in the headlights/terrified look on his face when he’s pressured. He doesn’t appear to be composed in the situations that matter, more often than not. And that often will lead to the constant check down that has been a big part of his game. Now, you can argue all you want that it’s “coaching/scheme” and that could be a part of it in some situations. But “in between the ears” is what most of the time separates the best from the rest unless you have some sort of insane athleticism or play making ability. Unfortunately for Cousins, the single biggest problem for me is his decision making in pressure situations more often than not, is not good. He looks flustered, scared, etc. It’s not like he’s not capable of making any plays. He does at times. But it’s the amount of times he shows us that “what do I do now” look that to me doesn’t cut it. And any time someone wants to highlight a game winning drive or something he made, to that, I’ll just point to when he lined up behind the guard instead of center against SF. That’s maybe the most embarrassing play possible from a guy who is your highest paid “leader”. If we can see it as fans, best believe the players aren’t blind to it.

Vikings can go to the super bowl with that talent like hunter cook Jefferson unfortunately adam and smith are aging also Kendrick kinda I guess but they’re good pieces he just needs to take a pay cut bro and he’s good

Solid stat machine. That's it.

Kirk is a top tier NFL QB and the REDSKINS were idiots playing RG when Kirk was much, much, much better. I guess RG sold a lot of jerseys despite losing 90% of his games.

Kirk has to show us now he has everything it takes to be a top Q B

Kirk cousins with Washington and 2018 to 2020 WAS NOT GOOD don’t look at stats you need to watch these games but he has been top 8 QB since 2021

Stafford is completely different. He had really good games in Detroit and was super clutch. With Kirk, there’s just something that short circuits under pressure

Why?! ....1) Night Lights makes him freeze up, 2) He's only a "9-5" guy, according to him, 3) He's afraid to run for the goddamn 1st Down, despite the field being Wide TF OPEN!... Want me to continue????