Cousins Career on the Line: Falcons QB Faces Former Vikings Team Amid…
A couple of months after quarterback Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings via free agency and signed a four-year contract reportedly worth $180M that included $100M guaranteed to join the Atlanta Falcons, he acknowledged that facing the Vikings in Minnesota this season would “be a unique experience.” That game will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium this Sunday.
Cousins spoke with reporters on Wednesday about what could be an awkward homecoming for the signal-caller who featured for the Vikings from 2018 through last season.
“I think you just kind of go through the week, go through your process,” Cousins explained, Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk shared. “You understand it’s a familiar place.”
Cousins played for the franchise now known as the Washington Commanders from 2012-17. In November 2022, he guided the Vikings to a 20-17 win at Washington.
“This happened when I played in Washington for the first time back,” Cousins said on Wednesday. “I had no idea where the away locker room was. I had never been in there. I had been to the Washington stadium many, many, many times, but I had never been to it in that way. Kind of felt like a rookie in that sense. So, now I’ll have that same feeling I assume on Sunday, where, it’s, OK, I’ve been here many times, but in this way, it’s a first.”
While Cousins and the Falcons began this season at 6-3, the club has since lost three games amid his struggles. Specifically, he tossed six interceptions with no touchdowns over those defeats. Four picks occurred in Atlanta’s 17-13 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday afternoon.
Whispers have surfaced suggesting the Falcons could move on from Cousins and start 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. next year. Meanwhile, free-agency acquisition Sam Darnold has helped the Vikings get to a 10-2 record.
“There’s certainly some unique experiences there,” Cousins continued, “but at the end of the day, you’re there to go play a football game and go play your best and win, and that’s where your focus is.”
As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Falcons as 5.5-point underdogs versus the Vikings.
