Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins makes them team to beat in the NFC

We didn’t see much of Kirk Cousins playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, but there was enough to believe this is the new team to beat in the NFC

In 2017, the Minnesota Vikings won 13 games with Case Keenum as their primary quarterback. They also just missed out on being the first team to ever play a Super Bowl in their home stadium as the Philadelphia Eagles knocked them out in the NFC Championship game.

To say Keenum held them back would be unfair because he was a very good quarterback for them last season. However, it’s not wrong to say they’ve upgraded the position after allowing him to walk in free agency.

Replacing Keenum is former Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, who showed in just one series that he’s an upgrade. Cousins had a great rapport with the explosive Stefon Diggs and connected early on a deep pass with him — which they then followed up with a one-yard touchdown pass.

Cousins finished his debut with 42 yards and a touchdown while completing all four of his passes. It was a small sample size, but it was enough. It was also much better than the two three and outs and 1-of-5 passing Keenum had on the opposite side for the Denver Broncos who they just happened to be playing.

While things in the preseason should always be taken with a grain of salt, it isn’t hyperbole to say that Cousins showed enough in his brief stint to make Minnesota look like the team to beat in the NFC.

Last season, Minnesota had the No. 1 defense in the NFL according to ESPN in terms of surrendering yardage. They won with that side of the ball dominating and Keenum and the offense controlling the clock and the ball. With Cousins, they can now win with their offense as much as they can with the defense.

Even with subpar weapons last year with Washington, Cousins had 4,093 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 picks. In 2016 when he had DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon (both left in free agency before 2017) he had 4,917 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 picks.

Armed with an arsenal that includes Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph, and an underrated third wide receiver in Kendall Wright means the sky is the limit for Cousins. He can also lean on a much better running game with the return of Dalvin Cook and the fact that Latavius Murray is a more than capable second back.

It also means they suddenly go from a team in contention for the Super Bowl, to the most complete unit in the NFC.