Kirk Cousins Rallies Falcons, Gives Vikings a Glimmer of Playoff Hope - and Raises Big Questions About His Future
The Minnesota Vikings still need a miracle to reach the postseason, but on Thursday night, they got a small - very small - nudge in the right direction. And oddly enough, it came courtesy of their former quarterback.
Kirk Cousins, now suiting up for the Atlanta Falcons, pulled off a vintage performance in Tampa Bay, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns to lead a stunning 14-point fourth-quarter comeback. The Falcons walked it off with a 29-28 win over the Buccaneers, and while that result didn’t exactly vault the Vikings into playoff contention, it did slightly improve their odds - by tenths of a percentage point, to be exact.
It’s a long road ahead for Minnesota, with a lot of dominoes that need to fall just right. But Thursday night was one of those dominoes. And for Vikings fans watching Cousins carve up a division rival, it was a strange mix of nostalgia and what-could-have-been.
Cousins Still Has It - But For How Much Longer?
At 37 years old, Kirk Cousins isn’t just playing quarterback - he’s still playing it at a respectable level. Through five starts this season, he’s 2-3 with a 62.6% completion rate, 1,218 passing yards, six touchdowns, three picks, and a passer rating of 86.3. Those aren’t MVP numbers, but they’re solid - especially for a guy coming off a major Achilles injury.
And yet, the future is murky.
Cousins is under contract with the Falcons through 2027, but the financial side of that deal is where things get complicated. He’s set to carry a massive $57.5 million cap hit in both 2026 and 2027 - numbers that are hard to justify unless he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level or better.
That puts Atlanta in a tough spot. They could look to restructure his deal this offseason, spread out the money, and keep him around as a steady veteran presence.
Or they could move on entirely. Releasing him in 2026 would clear $22.5 million in cap space.
Trading him would free up even more - $32.5 million.
But the clock is ticking. A $10 million roster bonus becomes fully guaranteed just five days into the new league year in March.
That means the Falcons’ front office doesn’t have the luxury of waiting around. A decision on Cousins’ future will need to come quickly.
Is Cousins Still the Best Option for Atlanta?
That’s the real question here. Because while Cousins is proving he can still sling it, the Falcons have to weigh that against the long-term picture - especially with Michael Penix Jr. in the fold. But Penix’s recent knee injury throws a wrench into any immediate plans to hand him the reins.
That might make the case for keeping Cousins around a little stronger. He’s shown he can still lead game-winning drives, still make the throws, and still run an offense with poise. And in a league where competent quarterback play is at a premium, that’s not something to take lightly - even at 37.
So while Thursday night’s win was a big one for Atlanta in the standings, it also served as a showcase. Cousins still has gas in the tank. And whether it’s in Atlanta or elsewhere, he may not be done just yet.
For the Vikings, the playoff dream is still a long shot. But for one night, their former QB gave them a little help - and gave the rest of the league something to think about heading into a pivotal offseason.