Kirk Cousins is not hiding from the criticism.
The Minnesota Vikings QB has caught a bunch of flak for his lack of throwing that only got worse following the loss to the Chicago Bears. Top target Adam Thielen aired out his frustrations when he noted that the Vikings won’t always be able to lean on the running game and “have to be able to hit the deep balls.”
Cousins was extremely apologetic on Tuesday when he spoke to ESPN.
“No, like he said, it’s reality,” Cousins said Tuesday, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “I really want to apologize to him because there’s too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday, and postgame when I talk to the media, I always say until I watch the film, it’s hard for me to really give you a straight answer. Well, now it’s Tuesday night. I’ve watched the film. And the reality is there were opportunities for him.”
The Vikings are averaging a putrid 169 passing yards per game, which is the 2nd-lowest mark in the entire league. That is beyond unacceptable with a team that has one of the league’s top WR duos in Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
“He’s shown — No. 19’s shown — that he will make that play, and he’ll probably finish that play in the end zone and pull away from the defender,” Cousins said. “Adam’s not just a really good player or one of the best players on the Vikings. He’s one of the best players in the NFL, one of the best players in the world, period, regardless of position. We want to, we need to — and when I saw ‘we,’ really I mean I need to — get him more opportunities, get him the football.
“There’s a couple as I go back and watch it, a dagger, a corner post, a fade throw in the end zone where I can make it easier on him, give him opportunities. Yes, was the Bears’ front seven really good? Yes. Did they make plays on the back end occasionally? Yes. But I didn’t help things with giving him more opportunities. If we run the ball successfully, if we run the ball more consistently, so be it. But when we do take our shots or we have our chances, we’ve got to hit them. The reality was I didn’t, we didn’t, and that’s where I think you’re frustrated after a game, and you’re looking to improve going into the next week.”
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The Vikings are all set to face the New York Giants on Sunday, who are one of the worst teams at defending the pass.
