Kirk Cousins returned to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, and Vikings fans greeted their former starting quarterback of six years with a nice, warm chorus of boos.
Cousins opted to move on from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, signing a monster four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. His new team is likely questioning that decision now, as the 36-year-old QB has zero touchdown passes and eight interceptions over his team’s current four-game losing streak.
Atlanta’s latest setback came Sunday against the Vikings, who hounded Cousins and got a huge game from new starter Sam Darnold in a 42-21 blowout win.
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Cousins reflected on his return to Minnesota prior to the game, and likely would have been more chatty on Sunday had the Falcons pulled out a win. But when asked about the success of his former team — the Vikings (11-2) still have an outside shot at earning the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed and first-round playoff bye — Cousins responded as fans of his former team would expect.
With grace.
“Sam’s played great,” Cousins said of Darnold, who now has 28 passing TDs on the season. “He’s had a great year. He did a great job today. I’m happy for him and the way he’s playing, and the way those guys are rolling.”
The divorce certainly worked out for the Vikings, who have managed to reset the books at the quarterback position while playing at a top-five level overall in the NFL.
Cousins got paid, but with first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, his leash may be getting shorter by the week in Atlanta.
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