Minnesota Vikings: 3 Players that must shine vs. Redskins in Week 8

1. Kirk Cousins

The obvious key aspect in this game between Minnesota and Washington on Thursday Night Football is the fact that Kirk Cousins will be facing off against his former team in the Redskins for the first time since he left the organization to join the Vikings prior to the 2018 season.

Cousins will likely have a bit of fire under him while facing off against his former team on a big stage for the first time as a member of Minnesota, which could benefit the Vikings at the end of the game on Thursday night.

After somewhat of a slow start to the 2019 campaign this season, Cousins has been stellar for Minnesota over the past three games and during the team’s three-game winning streak that it holds entering the Week 8 matchup. In last week’s victory over the Detroit Lions on the road, Cousins was once again dominant while helping the Vikings establish more of a potent passing game over the last few weeks.

In that game against Detroit in Week 7, Cousins completed 24 of his 34 total pass attempts, totaling 337 yards through the air while obtaining a quarterback rating of 70.6. While not turning the ball over at all, Cousins also threw for a season-high four touchdowns through the air in the contest.

It will be important and key for Cousins to have a big game once again on Thursday Night Football against his former team in order for the Vikings to find themselves winners of four straight at the end of the week.