After starting 2-2, this is not the answer anyone would have imagined....

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@Wetlander said:

@StickyBun said:
Personally, I've come full circle on him compared to September: I want Minnesota to resign him to a new contract. 

Same...  I didn't think he was capable of playing like this after last season and the start of this season.  Maybe a leopard can change his spots?  LOL

I fully agree that Kirk has been "coached up" this season compared to last.  You can see it in his decision making and comfort with the offense.  It's not only his accuracy on hitting open receivers either.  I notice it most when he's under pressure when the play starts to breakdown.  He seems more willing to throw it away and not force the ball into covered receivers.
I'm sure KC would agree this is his best season of his NFL career.

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Yep, this is a super bowl caliber QB and a super bowl caliber offense. It's just such a damn shame that the year we finally get it the NFC becomes a powerhouse and our defense takes a step back. 

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@Wetlander said:
Since Mike Zimmer said "we need to teach Kirk to play how we want him to play", he's been very good.  Those comments were after the Packers game where he forced a number of throws into double coverage and he was sloppy in the red zone. 

The numbers speak for themselves and this is more than just a "hot streak"...  it really does seem like Cousins has settled in and realized he doesn't need to do it all.  This is the kind of football we were hoping to see from him last season.

Lol, so Zimmer didn't break him?  Think that was the line of thinking back then.

But yes, his only INTs since Chicago ? Have been two off Diggs hands and the leaping one on a screen last week.

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The one constant positive in Vikings turnaround: Kirk CousinsThe running game has been inconsistent, the defense has disappeared at times and special teams haven't distinguished themselves. That leaves one constant in the Vikings' success.

By Michael RandDecember 17, 2019 — 8:58am

In the resurrection of this Vikings season, one which appeared on the brink of disaster after a 2-2 start – even though we should know better than to judge a Mike Zimmer team after four games – there have been plenty of story lines and standout performances.

But in the course of the last 10 games, when the Vikings have gone 8-2 and put themselves on the brink of making the playoffs, there really has been one positive constant above all others: the excellence of Kirk Cousins.
The running game has disappeared for stretches, injuries to Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook have changed the look of the offense, the defense has been inconsistent (and at times flat-out bad) and special teams have been a mixed bag.
All the while, Cousins has thrown for 22 touchdowns against just three interceptions in that span, with 2,745 passing yards and a 118.1 passer rating along with 8.74 yards per attempt. His Total QBR, which was down near the bottom of the league through four weeks, is No. 9 among passers now.
In almost every case where he’s been asked to make big throws, he’s made them. In games that called simply for good decisions, he’s made them.
http://www.startribune.com/the-one-const...566274122/

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“I think it’s more than one area. I think Kevin (Stefanski) has done a nice job calling the game, which helps, helps the quarterback getting the ball out on time, helps he’s not sitting back there and patting it,” Zimmer said. “The offensive line has done a nice job as well. I think if you put all those three things together, it’s a combination of not getting negative plays.”
But Cousins is the one who is making the big money, who has to make the in-the-moment decisions and who ultimately gets the glory or blame. He was getting plenty of the latter early in the year, and he deserves the former now.
All of those things will be tested in the final two weeks against Green Bay and Chicago. Arguably the worst games of the season for Cousins, the line and to a degree Stefanski came in Week 2 and Week 4 losses to the Packers and Bears.
We will see how far they have come as the Vikings try to close in on a playoff berth that could ensure Cousins is here for years to come.

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@Wetlander said:
Since Mike Zimmer said "we need to teach Kirk to play how we want him to play", he's been very good.  Those comments were after the Packers game where he forced a number of throws into double coverage and he was sloppy in the red zone. 

The numbers speak for themselves and this is more than just a "hot streak"...  it really does seem like Cousins has settled in and realized he doesn't need to do it all.  This is the kind of football we were hoping to see from him last season.

"Settled in" is the right way to put it. He looks perfectly comfortable with this offense now. I hope we don't need to see him win anymore games by himself, because I still don't have a ton of confidence in that. But as long as he's able to play relaxed, and is allowed to throw it away on 3rd down, I think he's pretty damn good.

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Depends on the question.



Kirk has been playing great since the disaster in Chicago...

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@"BarrNone55" said:
Depends on the question.



Kirk has been playing great since the disaster in Chicago...

That Chicago game really funked my attitude about this team this year. Spent the $$$ to go to Chicago last year and this year then spent even more to go to KC 

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@Vikergirl said:
That is an exciting thing. I think he is finding his groove. He seems very passionate and invested. He might be getting out of his own head and own way. Maybe he had a breakthrough.

After the train wreck that was Washington, a consistent and supportive team/management seems to be working wonders.  I think his best games still lie ahead.