12-22-2019, 03:23 PM
The Vikings' decision to give Kirk Cousins big money was in direct response to the success the Packers have had with Aaron Rodgers. So far, the numbers show Cousins is holding up his end of the bargain
The Vikings’ decision to give Kirk Cousins big money in 2018 — his three-year, $84 million deal at the time was the most guaranteed money ever given to a quarterback — was in direct response to the success the Packers have had with Aaron Rodgers under center.The Vikings had an frustrating time trying to find a franchise quarterback who could keep up with Green Bay’s two-time NFL MVP, and they felt like Cousins could finally stabilize that position.
So far, the numbers show that Cousins is holding up his end of the bargain.
Not only that, but the Packers had to step up to match the Vikings’ money. After the Vikings gave Cousins his three-year, $84 million contract in March 2018 with all the money guaranteed, five months later the Packers responded by giving Rodgers a four-year extension worth $134 million, with more than $100 million of that guaranteed.
In the head-to-head matchups the two quarterbacks have played since Cousins’ arrival here, each team has won once at home, and the first meeting last year at Lambeau Field ended in a 29-29 tie.
At the start of this season, Cousins and the Vikings got off to a horrible start at Green Bay in Week 2, rallied late and eventually lost 21-16 after Cousins threw an interception in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
The statistics of the quarterbacks in their head-to-head matchups since 2018 look like this:
Cousins has completed 78 of 118 passes (66.1%) for 997 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Rodgers has completed 69 of 104 passes (66.3%) for 688 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Cousins has been the more dynamic passer, Rodgers has minimized his mistakes and that made a huge difference in Week 2.
And if you look at the numbers overall, they tell a similar season.
Since the start of the 2018 season, both QBs have started every game, 30 in all. Cousins has completed a higher percentage of passes (70.3% to 62.7%) with more touchdowns (55 to 49) and, by one game, a better overall record (18-11-1 to 17-12-1) than Rodgers. Cousins’ passer rating of 104.3 also is higher than Rodgers’ mark of 98.8.
The biggest stat in Rodgers favor is that he has thrown only four interceptions since 2018 while Cousins has thrown 15.
Still there has to be some question if Rodgers is the same quarterback he has been in the past. Over the past four games he has averaged only 186.3 passing yards per game. But Green Bay is 3-1 in that span
http://www.startribune.com/since-joining...566409262/
The Vikings’ decision to give Kirk Cousins big money in 2018 — his three-year, $84 million deal at the time was the most guaranteed money ever given to a quarterback — was in direct response to the success the Packers have had with Aaron Rodgers under center.The Vikings had an frustrating time trying to find a franchise quarterback who could keep up with Green Bay’s two-time NFL MVP, and they felt like Cousins could finally stabilize that position.
So far, the numbers show that Cousins is holding up his end of the bargain.
Not only that, but the Packers had to step up to match the Vikings’ money. After the Vikings gave Cousins his three-year, $84 million contract in March 2018 with all the money guaranteed, five months later the Packers responded by giving Rodgers a four-year extension worth $134 million, with more than $100 million of that guaranteed.
In the head-to-head matchups the two quarterbacks have played since Cousins’ arrival here, each team has won once at home, and the first meeting last year at Lambeau Field ended in a 29-29 tie.
At the start of this season, Cousins and the Vikings got off to a horrible start at Green Bay in Week 2, rallied late and eventually lost 21-16 after Cousins threw an interception in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
The statistics of the quarterbacks in their head-to-head matchups since 2018 look like this:
Cousins has completed 78 of 118 passes (66.1%) for 997 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Rodgers has completed 69 of 104 passes (66.3%) for 688 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Cousins has been the more dynamic passer, Rodgers has minimized his mistakes and that made a huge difference in Week 2.
And if you look at the numbers overall, they tell a similar season.
Since the start of the 2018 season, both QBs have started every game, 30 in all. Cousins has completed a higher percentage of passes (70.3% to 62.7%) with more touchdowns (55 to 49) and, by one game, a better overall record (18-11-1 to 17-12-1) than Rodgers. Cousins’ passer rating of 104.3 also is higher than Rodgers’ mark of 98.8.
The biggest stat in Rodgers favor is that he has thrown only four interceptions since 2018 while Cousins has thrown 15.
Still there has to be some question if Rodgers is the same quarterback he has been in the past. Over the past four games he has averaged only 186.3 passing yards per game. But Green Bay is 3-1 in that span
http://www.startribune.com/since-joining...566409262/
