One day after Minnesota’s offense sputtered in a loss to Buffalo, the Vikings went out and changed the shape of their quarterback room.
The team acquired Kirk Cousins from the Raiders, sending a third-round pick the other way to bring back its former standout. It’s a measured gamble for a Minnesota team that has watched its collection of talented pass-catchers, especially Justin Jefferson, go too quiet in recent weeks.
That problem showed up again Monday night in a 23-6 defeat to the Bills. Minnesota’s defense did its job, but the offense never found a rhythm and barely threatened a Buffalo defense that has taken plenty of heat this season.
Cousins gives the Vikings something they have lacked. However people feel about him, he should be a more dangerous downfield thrower than Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz. He also knows Kevin O’Connell’s system, which should help him climb right to the top of the depth chart once he arrives - a spot he knows well.
Minnesota’s 6-2 record still puts it in the playoff picture, but the offense has not looked like that of a true contender. The Vikings are sitting in a postseason spot for now, though the Seahawks and Rams are among the teams chasing them.
The defense remains the backbone. Brian Flores’ group held Buffalo to a season-low in points even while the offense offered almost nothing in support. Unless injuries start piling up, Minnesota should keep getting enough from that side of the ball to stay competitive.
That leaves Cousins with the job of injecting life into an attack that has been searching for it. He was rolling in Las Vegas and was on pace for a career-high in passing touchdowns. If he can bring even close to that version of himself to Minnesota, the Vikings should have enough firepower to keep winning and possibly climb even higher in the NFC.
The schedule gives them a path, but not an easy one. Games against the Commanders and Jets look like the ones Minnesota should be expected to handle. If that happens, the Vikings would already be sitting on at least eight wins.
After that, the margin for error gets thin. The Packers, 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, Patriots, Lions and Bears all look like teams that could still be in the postseason mix when the season ends. Those matchups will test Minnesota, especially if Cousins needs time to settle back into O’Connell’s offense.
Still, the math is fairly clear. Since the league moved to a 17-game schedule in 2021, the seventh seed has averaged 9.6 wins.
No team with more than 11 wins has been left out in that span. If Minnesota can take three of those tougher games, it should be in strong shape to punch its ticket, particularly if some of those victories come inside the division.
The NFC North race is tight, too. Through Week 9, the Bears sit first at 7-2, followed by the Lions and Vikings at 6-2, with the Packers at 6-3. Minnesota is still right in the middle of it, trailing Detroit only because of the head-to-head tiebreaker and holding the edge over Chicago after winning on the road.
The offense may have looked stuck with Murray and Wentz running it, but it’s hard to imagine it being worse with Cousins at the controls. He brings a track record of steady production, and if he can deliver anything close to what he showed in his short Raiders stint, Minnesota should be positioned to stay in the hunt for both the division and the conference in the regular season.
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Left Guard Problem Dan Campbell Didn't Settle
Christian Mahoganys sudden seat on the bench created a new wrinkle for Detroit at left guard, even if the door to reclaiming the job is still open. Dan Campbell confirmed Mahogany sat out a game because of a violation of team rules, and Miles Frazier stepped in to start in his place, giving the Lions a quick look at a different option on the interior line.
Campbells update leaves the position in a state of uncertainty heading into the matchup with the New England Patriots, especially with the rest of the roster still being monitored. He also said it is unclear whether cornerback D.J. Reed and defensive end DJ Wonnum will be available, so Detroit could be sorting through more than one availability question as it tries to settle the left side of the line. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have Real Hope In Jack Campbell Situation
Jack Campbells injury sent a jolt through the Lions last week, and the immediate concern was bigger than football. The linebacker was placed on injured reserve after suffering a serious neck injury against the Vikings, which means he has to miss at least four games, and teammates have been openly emotional in the aftermath. Jared Goff was among those reflecting on how the team handled the moment, a reminder of how quickly a routine division game turned into something far more sobering.
There is at least a sliver of encouraging news now, though, and it has given the building a reason to breathe a little easier. NFL reporter Mike Silver has indicated there is cautious optimism about Campbell possibly returning this season, based on the progress he has made since the injury. For a defense that has leaned on Campbells presence, the idea of getting him back at some point would be a meaningful lift, even if the timeline remains very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Waiting On Kerby Joseph As Secondary Decision Looms
Kerby Josephs return remains on hold as Detroit heads to Germany for its next game, with Dan Campbell confirming the safety will not be available while he continues to recover from a knee cartilage condition. Joseph is still on the physically unable to perform list, leaving the Lions to manage their secondary without one of their top defensive backs as the trip overseas approaches.
The timing only adds to the pressure on the roster decision ahead, because Detroit has until next week to decide whether to activate Joseph to the 53-man roster or leave him on PUP for the rest of the season. The Lions have already added Andre Cisco for depth at safety, a move that helps cover the position in the short term while the bigger question around Josephs status still hangs over the defense. [Read more 🡒]