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...
Vikings Came Closer To Another Quarterback Move Than Fans Realized
The Vikings were closer to another quarterback swing before the trade deadline than most fans realized, checking in on San Francisco backup Mac Jones before deciding the cost was too rich. It was the kind of due diligence teams do when they are weighing depth, insurance and the possibility that a veteran passer could help stabilize a room, especially with the deadline always forcing front offices to make quick judgments about value.
Kyle Shanahan said multiple teams had interest in Jones, who has settled into his role with the 49ers and says he is happy to stay put while preparing to play if called upon. For Minnesota, the interest is another reminder that the search for quarterback help can surface in unexpected places, and Jones is still expected to reach unrestricted free agency after the season. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Bring A Very Different Backfield Into Vikings Week
Green Bay may be headed into Vikings week with a very different look in the backfield. Josh Jacobs is out for Week 10 after surgery on a broken finger, and his absence could stretch beyond the Packers bye in Week 11, forcing the team to reshuffle a rushing attack that has leaned on him heavily.
ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported that Kaleb Johnson could be the next man up, with the former Steelers draft pick in line for a bigger role after his Week 9 showing against New England. Johnson ran 14 times for 68 yards and a touchdown in that game, and the Packers may use the matchup with Minnesota to see whether he can handle a longer stretch as the lead option. [Read more 🡒]
JJ McCarthy Weighed In On Kirk Cousins Vikings Return
Kirk Cousins return to Minnesota has already stirred up plenty of reaction, and JJ McCarthy was among the former Vikings figures asked to weigh in. Now the Giants quarterback, McCarthy was drafted by Minnesota before his path changed, so his perspective carries a little extra weight even as he settles into his own situation in New York. He kept the focus respectful, offering well wishes for Cousins and acknowledging the ties Cousins still has to former teammates in the Vikings locker room.
McCarthy also made clear where his attention needs to be now, pointing the conversation back to the Giants and their upcoming games. For Minnesota, Cousins return adds another layer to a familiar storyline, with a quarterback who knows the organization well stepping back into the picture and drawing interest from people who used to be part of it. McCarthys comments were brief, but they underscored how much the Vikings quarterback history still resonates even beyond the building. [Read more 🡒]