Why the Vikings and Kirk Cousins need each other

John Autey/Pioneer Press/TNS By Dane Mizutani / St. Paul Pioneer Press Today at 5:00 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? There’s something poetic about the man the Vikings willingly moved on from a couple of years ago returning to Minnesota to save them from themselves. A drowning offense received a lifeline on Tuesday at the trade deadline, when the Vikings reacquired veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in a blockbuster deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. ADVERTISEMENT It was surreal walking into the building on Wednesday at TCO Performance Center knowing Cousins would be there. It was even more surreal hearing him answer questions for 15 minutes. It almost felt like he never left. “I’m grateful to be back,” Cousins said with a smile. “It’s certainly a unique feeling.” The hope is that Cousins will help the Vikings inject some life into what has otherwise been a punchless attack, which currently ranks No. 31 in total yards per game (266.8) and No. 27 in points per game (18.3). Who better than Cousins to help head coach Kevin O’Connell rediscover his identity as a play caller? The pair that was brought together by fate once upon a time, in hindsight, proved to be a better match than probably either of them realized. Many of the principles that Cousins has prided himself on — rhythm, timing, accuracy — are congruent with what O’Connell likes to dial up over the course of a game. “If there are completions to be had, he’s going to find them,” O’Connell said. “That can be down the field. That can be in the intermediate areas. 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They had 18 missed tackles Jahmyr Gibbs and his shiftiness gave the Vikings fits throughout the game Nov 3 · By Dane Mizutani / St. Paul Pioneer Press The ability to do that harkens back to a phrase O’Connell has emphasized throughout his time with the Vikings. The power of completions. It’s the hallmark of everything O’Connell wants to do on offense and Cousins has proven capable of delivering on that. ADVERTISEMENT “He understands the intent of a play and what we’re trying to get done,” O’Connell said. “He also understands how to attack that and play very fast and play in a sharp manner that allows the check down on that play to be just as impressive and impactful as the 30-yard competition.” As intriguing as the story arc is at its core, however, Cousins fully understands that he’s been brought in to do a job. This is a Super Bowl contender as long as the offense reaches an average level of competence. That’s how good the defense has been to this point. That’s why general manager Nolan Teasley entered the trade deadline knowing he needed to do everything in his power to give this version of the Vikings a legitimate kick at the can. “This roster has earned the right to explore the potential to maximize where we can take this,” Teasley said. “We’re excited to get Kirk in the building and get him acclimated as this team continues to attempt to improve.” The urgency to add somebody felt more pressing than ever after backup quarterback Carson Wentz struggled mightily before a nationally televised audience on Monday at U.S. Bank Stadium as the Vikings suffered a 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That said, Teasley tried to claim that the result of the game itself had no impact on the move he made, noting that the process of canvassing the market for players that might available has long been in the works. “We’ve had a lot of conversations over the past several weeks regarding a lot of different positions,” Teasley said. “Ultimately in Kirk we saw an opportunity to acquire an accomplished quarterback and improve the Minnesota Vikings.” ADVERTISEMENT As much as Vikings needed Cousins, make no mistake about it, he needs them, too. Though he’s been incredibly prolific since being selected in the 2012 NFL Draft — both statistically and financially — Cousins hasn’t experienced a ton of success when it's mattered most. He only has one playoff win to his name. It’s the biggest stain on his résumé. That had to have played a role in Cousins green lighting the swap to return to the Vikings. “It’s all about winning a Super Bowl,” Cousins said. “It always has been.” Maybe a little unfinished business in Minnesota having not yet been able to do that? “I think my whole career has felt like unfinished business,” Cousins said. “I don’t know that I would say this is any different.” That yearning to prove himself has driven Cousins at every stage of his life. It’s a big reason why he decided to delay retirement. He signed with the Raiders in free agency after the Vikings opted to go in another direction. ADVERTISEMENT “I just felt like there was more meat on the bone,” Cousins said. “I just felt like there was more to go get.” That decision eventually led him back to the Vikings. The singularity of the situation isn’t lost on him. It’s a reunion made for a Disney movie that could go a long way in rewriting narratives and solidifying legacies for everybody involved. “I’m coming to a team that has a lot of ability,” Cousins said. “I’m excited to be a part of it and to hopefully contribute the best I can.” Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags MINNESOTA VIKINGS NFL Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Rea