NFL on Prime Video panel full of praise for Kirk Cousins despite Eagles loss
While the Minnesota Vikings came away from Philadelphia with a loss to the Eagles on Thursday Night Football, the Prime Video panel of analysts felt one man wasn't to blame: Vikings QB Kirk Cousins.
Cousins finished the 34-28 loss having completed 31 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns: two to TJ Hockenson and one each to Jordan Addison and KJ Osborn.
Throughout his career Cousins has been dogged with criticisms of his record in primetime games, but in the postgame wrap the likes of Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Andrew Whitworth had plenty positive to say about the Vikings' signal caller, instead pinning the blame on the Vikings' offensive line, the lack of running game, and – once again – too many turnovers.
"It's frustrating because people are going to blame this game on Kirk Cousins," said Sherman, adding that Cousins was "threading the needle" and "delivering the ball on time."
"When he gets his chance, he's making plays."
Whitworth, a former offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams, said: "His O-line got dominated ... it was impressive how much [Cousins] could do given how much the O-line got dominated.
"You look at the turnover differential every game, if you turn over the ball as much as this you're not going to win. Kirk can't do it all, they've got to run the ball better, this line's got to play better."
Former Washington and Miami quarterback Fitzpatrick acknowledged how often the Eagles' defensive line was getting to Cousins.
"Kirk was getting beat up time after time ... so for him to hang in the pocket at the end and throw those touchdowns, extra impressive," he said.
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Raised on the Isle of Man, Adam has 15 years experience as a reporter and editor at regional and national level in the U.K. and the U.S. He moved to Minnesota in 2014 and became a writer for Bring Me The News. He is now the co-owner and editor of Bring Me The News and Bring Me The Sports, mixing in some occasional sports writing with his other editorial duties. He lists his three great loves as his family, Liverpool F.C. and baked beans (the British kind).