Minnesota Vikings: 3 X-factors to beating 49ers in Divisional Round

2. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins has caught some criticism from many around the NFL for not being able to step up and perform will on the big stage and in the biggest moments, failing to win the “big game.”

On the road in New Orleans last weekend in the opening-round victory in the NFC Wild Card Round, Cousins responded to all of that criticism by stepping up big when his team needed him to most and was finally able to secure the big-time win in a big-game situation to help the Vikings continue on in the postseason.

In the win over the Saints last Sunday, Cousins finished the game with 242 yards passing and one touchdown through the air, ending up completing 19 of his 31 overall pass attempts in the victory. He capped off that performance putting together a solid game-winning drive in overtime and lifting Minnesota to an upset win in overtime.

This weekend with another tough matchup on the horizon for Cousins and company in San Francisco, the Vikings are going to need their star quarterback to step up even more in order to come out on top yet again.

Cousins will be perhaps one of the biggest contributors and largest x-factor when it comes to Minnesota being able to keep pace with San Francisco as both teams attempt to advance to the NFC Championship Round in the 2020 NFL Playoffs.