NFL Power Rankings: Ranking every QB in the top-heavy NFC in 2022

NFL Power Rankings, NFC QB no. 6: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Wins are not a quarterback-specific stat, but it’s really frustrating the way Kirk Cousins-led teams are always seemingly average.

The Minnesota Vikings have had issues beyond their QB1, but Cousins has consistently hovered around 8-8 or 9-7 as a starting quarterback since the 2015 season.

His numbers would seem to indicate that the Vikings should be winning more games. He threw for 4,221 yards and 33 touchdowns last season and had the lowest interception percentage of his NFL career to date (1.2).

Cousins completes passes at a high rate, throws a lot of touchdowns, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes with the ball, and yet his teams simply cannot get over the proverbial hump.

What is the deal here?

The Vikings are paying a lot of money to see if they can figure out the missing ingredient. Cousins has to put up or shut up this season, or his time in Minnesota could come to a close sooner rather than later.

An 8-9 record or even 9-8 simply won’t cut it. Cousins has been paid like a star quarterback, but the Vikings have been unable to assert themselves in a division with only one other legitimate competitor.