Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Defends Kirk Cousins, Says Stats Match MVP Candidates

Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson doesn’t want to hear any more shots from his quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

The Vikings have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, winning the NFC North with two regular-season playoff games to go. But some are still skeptical about Minnesota, which has generated eight fourth-quarter comebacks this season, tied for the most in NFL history.

Many fingers are pointed at Cousins, a signaling veteran. Some see him as decisive when it matters most, some see him as the reason the Vikings trail those games in the first place.

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Justin Jefferson, left, and Kirk Cousins ​​of the Minnesota Vikings high-five during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers on training camp at the TCO Performance Center on August 18, 2022 in Eagan, Minnesota.
(David Berding/Getty Images)

Jefferson doesn’t care what other people think. He believes Cousins’ numbers are doing the talking.

“All the criticism of Kirk has to stop!! I understand y’all hating on dad’s style but come on, his numbers are good with all of his MVP candidates,” he tweeted.

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When you take a look at the numbers, as Jefferson suggests, Cousins ​​ranks fifth in passing yards (4,117) and fourth in passing touchdowns (27). His 20th-ranked 51.0 QBR doesn’t help his case, though, nor is his 15th-ranked completion percentage of 65.7%, though it’s still a solid stat.

It’s also worth noting that Cousins ​​is the third-most sacked quarterback in the league this season, tied with New York Giants signal caller Daniel Jones with 44 sacks.

Kirk Cousins ​​of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after defeating the Indianapolis Colts at US Bank Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Minneapolis.

Kirk Cousins ​​of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after defeating the Indianapolis Colts at US Bank Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Minneapolis.
(Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

The favorite for MVP, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sacked 24 times by comparison. However, Mahomes is much more mobile than Cousins.

Still, Cousins ​​leads a 12-3 football team that will have at least one game in the playoffs after taking home a division title. Cousins ​​doubters, however, will point out that he has only made the playoffs once in his first four seasons with Minnesota.

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Jefferson also won’t hear anything about the man who has been passing him the ball in a record-breaking season. He has been the top receiver in the NFL with 1,756 yards and eight touchdowns.

Jefferson’s total receiving yards are now the best single-season performance in Vikings history, surpassing Randy Moss’ 1,632 in 2003.

Justin Jefferson (18) and Kirk Cousins ​​(8) of the Minnesota Vikings against the New England Patriots in the second quarter of a game at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.  The Vikings defeated the Patriots 33-26.

Justin Jefferson (18) and Kirk Cousins ​​(8) of the Minnesota Vikings against the New England Patriots in the second quarter of a game at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Patriots 33-26.
(David Berding/Getty Images)

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Cousins ​​and the Vikings can silence the naysayers if they can get past their first playoff opponent. The only playoff win Cousins ​​has with the Vikings was a 26-20 win over the New Orleans Saints in 2019. They later lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 27-10, in the NFC divisional playoffs.

By Robert Collins

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