Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a touchdown in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ((Photo by David Berding/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS - Kirk Cousins threw for 341 yards, averaged nearly 10 yards per completion and had three touchdowns in Saturday’s 34-31 win for the Minnesota Vikings over the Green Bay Packers.
Cousins also had two interceptions overturned, one on a roughing the passer call and the other after Darnell Savage didn’t complete the process of making the catch. On that same game-winning drive, Cousins had a pass to Adam Thielen for a big gain that was nearly intercepted.
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Cousins hit Justin Jefferson, Thielen, Tyler Conklin and others for big plays on Sunday. After the win, he said he thought some of the throws might have been too aggressive.
"I don't think you want to live doing it. I think we got away with it a couple times, and I keep saying word razor's edge, but that's a play where it's an example of it," Cousins said. "You don't want to live in a world throwing the ball into a covered player and crossing your fingers. You don't want to live in that world. There's a time and place for it, but you also want to be a smart football player."
In 10 games this season, Cousins now has 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday he’d prefer Cousins be aggressive and take more chances.
"I thought he made some great decisions. I want him to keep doing it like he’s doing it. He can’t second guess himself. If he throws an interception, that’s life," Zimmer said. "Keep going for the jugular, it’s going to open up a lot of other areas."
Cousins has thrown for at least 300 yards four times this season, and the Vikings are 3-1 in those games. The only loss was Week 1 at Cincinnati, where Cousins was leading a potential game-winning drive before Dalvin Cook fumbled, and the Bengals kicked a field goal to win.
Cousins, Zimmer and the Vikings have taken criticism this season for not being aggressive in throwing the ball down field with regularity. They took chances against the Packers, and it paid off.
ZIMMER GIVES GAME BALL TO EQUIPMENT MANAGER DENNIS RYAN
Mike Zimmer had a game ball to give out Sunday after the Vikings beat the Packers, but it wasn’t to a player. It was to equipment manager Dennis Ryan, who missed his first game in 45 years after testing positive for COVID-19.
Ryan had been on the Vikings’ sideline for 705 straight games, hadn’t missed a regular season game since 1979 and had been at every home game since 1977.
"I think everybody in this building loves Dennis. He’s a tireless worker. He told me this week when he found out he had COVID that he was going to miss his first game in 45 years. He said, "Darn, it has to be against the Packers,’" Zimmer said. "I just thought it was appropriate for him. He goes out of his way for everybody in this building."
The good news for Ryan? Zimmer said he’s doing fine, and is expected back at TCO Performance Center later this week.
VIKINGS FIRMLY BACK IN NFC PLAYOFF CONVERSATION
Sunday’s win over the Packers was big in many ways for the Vikings. They’re now on a two-game win streak, back at .500 for the second time this season and 2-0 in the NFC North Division. They’re also currently the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs, holding one of three Wild Card spots.
Minnesota’s win over Green Bay was one of 11 over the last three weeks by teams with a below .500 record against a division leader. That’s the most since the NFL merger in 1970.
In the NFC Playoff race, the Vikings join the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers at 5-5, and hold tiebreakers over both. Minnesota heads to San Francisco this Sunday in a huge game for both teams. The Vikings are also 2.5 games behind the Packers in the NFC North, but there’s still seven games to play.
"There’s so many things that are happening in the NFL right now that we’ve just got to keep trying to win games. 6-5 isn’t our goal, we don’t want to be 6-5. We want to be 12-5 if we can," Zimmer said. "If we can get another win, then we can hopefully stack a few together."