Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, the NFL announced today.
Cousins, an eleven-year pro, led the Vikings to their first win over Indianapolis since 1997, overcoming a 33-point deficit at halftime to achieve the largest comeback in NFL history. In Week 15, Cousins completed a season-high 34 passes for a career-high 460 passing yards and a career-high-tying four passing touchdowns, leading the team to a 39-36 overtime victory to secure the NFC North Division Title.
His 460 passing yards in Week 15 were the most by any player in the NFL in that week and his four passing touchdowns against the Colts are tied for the most last week. In Week 15, Cousins (20,205) passed QB Daunte Culpepper (20,162) for the third-most passing yards in franchise history, doing so in only five seasons with the club. In his last four games, Cousins has thrown for a league-best passing yards (1,357), the second-most passing touchdowns (10) and the fifth-best completion percentage (69.5%).
Cousins has thrown for over 400 yards in a game eight times in his career and has thrown for over 400 yards in five games as a Viking, the most in franchise history. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2015, his seven games with 400-plus passing yards are tied with QB Tom Brady for the third-most in the NFL in that span, trailing only Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, who have done so in nine games.
The accolade marks Cousins’ seventh NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor in his career and third as a Viking. Cousins becomes the sixth player to win an NFC Player of the Week award under Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, tying Dennis Green (1992) for the most by a first-year head coach in team history.
VIKINGS NAMED NFC PLAYER OF THE WEEK UNDER O’CONNELL
Special Teams Greg Joseph, K 2022, Week 4, vs. New Orleans (London)
Special Teams Ryan Wright, P 2022, Week 6, at Miami
Defensive Za’Darius Smith, OLB 2022, Week 8, vs. Arizona
Offensive Justin Jefferson, WR 2022, Week 10, at Buffalo
Special Teams Kene Nwangwu, RB 2022, Week 12, vs. New England
Offensive Kirk Cousins, QB 2022, Week 15, vs. Indianapolis
(info and picture courtesy of Vikings)