Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: 5 Bold predictions for Week 16

2. Cousins feels the heat, throws two picks again

Whenever Kirk Cousins has been in primetime this season, he’s stepped in a way that few thought he was truly capable of. Perhaps the best example came on Nov. 10 in primetime against the Dallas Cowboys when the quarterback was on his game in a big way while going 23-of-32 for 220 yards and two touchdowns in an emphatic victory over an NFC playoff contender.

The point is, Cousins has done a lot of things this season to shed many of the negative labels that have followed him around throughout his career. He’s been impressive when the spotlight has been on him, for the most part, and has not shrunken into his shell whenever he’s been called upon to be a leader. However, he still has yet to show that’s the case against Green Bay.

As mentioned, Cousins was downright bad against the Packers at the beginning of the season. Green Bay’s defense, even if they are susceptible to the run (which should allow the Vikings some success), has proven that Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark and Preston Smith can get after the opposing quarterback and force a player like Cousins into poor decisions or rushed throws.

That will again be the case on Monday Night Football and the tired narrative of Cousins struggling in primetime will resurface. Don’t be fooled though — this isn’t about being in primetime but rather playing a Packers defense that is simply designed to give a player of the Vikings quarterback’s ilk all kinds of problems.