There is still a debate in Washington about how good or not Kirk Cousins is even two seasons removed from his departure from the Redskins to the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins’ career has been haunted by his inability to show up in big games.
Sunday, Cousins momentarily dispelled the notion with two big time throws to lead the Vikings over the New Orleans Saints 26-20 in overtime in the NFC Wild Card Round.
First Cousins threw a dime deep down the field to wide receiver Adam Thielen for 43 yards.
Thielen was ruled down at the 2-yard line. After two failed run attempts by Vikings running back Dalvin Cook that lost three yards, Cousins delivered once again on a big time throw.
Cousins hooked up with tight end Kyle Rudolph on a ….. fade to the corner of the end zone for the walk-off win.
It was ironic considering one of Cousins’ biggest knocks from Redskins fans for years has been his inability to connect on a fade route. The fade in the end zone was arguably former Redskins head coach Jay Gruden’s favorite plays during Cousins time in Washington.
More often than not, Cousins failed to hook up with his receivers on the route. So much so, Gruden often criticized Cousins for not being able to connect with “taller” receivers.
Now two seasons removed from Washington, Gruden and heck draft bust Josh Doctson, Cousins in the biggest moment thus far in his career delivered on the play that has haunted him for so long.
The fact it came after arguably the best throw of his career — to Thielen — made it so much special for his supporters and ironic to his doubters. There’s a lot of them on both sides of the fence on Cousins in Washington.
However, the fact of the matter is Cousins has his first playoff win of his career, more than his former team has had since 2006.
