Minnesota Vikings: 3 X-factors to beating Saints in Wild Card Round

1. Kirk Cousins

The third and final X-factor for the Minnesota Vikings this weekend on the road against the New Orleans Saints includes Vikings veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

There is no doubt that Sunday’s game is a big-time contest and one that would be big for Minnesota to come out on top of to continue to advance in the 2020 NFL Playoffs, but the big games have often resulted in Cousins struggling on a national stage that has resulted in the quarterback receiving some criticism up to this point in his professional career.

As it once again occurred in the Monday Night Football game against NFC North rival Green Bay in Week 16 at home in Minneapolis, Cousins has struggled in the big-time games and Vikings fans are still waiting for the breakthrough performance from their quarterback in an important game.

While New Orleans has been viewed as one of the top threats to reach the Super Bowl going into the playoffs this season, Cousins will once again be put under the microscope and many will follow closely to what the Minnesota quarterback is able to do under center in the game.

Cousins and the rest of the Vikings offense will have to step up to try and match what the Saints are able to accomplish on offense in the contest this weekend, which will be no easy feat.

Going into the postseason, Minnesota has averaged a total of 353.5 yards per game on the offensive end of the field, which ranked 16th in the NFL during the regular season. The Vikings did average to put up an average of 25.4 points per contest, which was good enough to rank eighth in the league. In the passing game, Cousins and Minnesota have averaged 220.2 passing yards per game, which ranked 23rd in the NFL.

In order for the Vikings to enter New Orleans and upset a Saints team on their home field in the NFC Wild Card Round on Sunday afternoon, Cousins will be a huge x-factor in helping lead the way for Minnesota.