Tim’s Takes: This week in MN sports for September 16, 2019

As a long-suffering fan of the Minnesota Vikings, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the team’s 16-21 week two loss in Green Bay.

Kirk Cousins fans were more than disappointed with his performance on Sunday, Sept. 16 at Lambeau. (Photo Courtesy of Around the NFL/@AroundTheNFL via Twitter)

Let me see if I have this right: Spot the Packers a 21-0 lead, the Packers offensive line NEVER held the Vikings even once, the referees, who flagged the Vikings eight times for 100-yards, did not throw a flag on a Vikings touchdown, so the replay crew in New York did, via satellite, nullifying said touchdown? Stefon Diggs gets an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for removing his helmet on the field 10-yards past the end zone? And just when the Vikings seemed to have taken control of the game on both sides of the football, Kirk Cousins inexplicably throws an interception in the end zone on 1^st and goal from the Green Bay 8? Yup, that sounds like your typical Minnesota Vikings game.

A couple of thoughts; First, Stephen Stills, of the band Crosby, Still & Nash (and yes, sometimes Young) hit the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1970 with a song called “Love the One You’re With.” In the refrain Stills wrote, “If you can’t be with the one you love, honey, love the one you’re with.” Most certainly a reference to the loosening of social restrictions of the time, but current Viking fans may want to download a copy and give it a listen…or 12, to cope with any animosity toward quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Let’s just say it, the whole Cousins thing does not appear to be going well. On paper, Cousins’ numbers in 2018 were more than respectable, but in big games and in big moments, the guy with the contract for $84 million, guaranteed, doesn’t seem to be able to play at a level commensurate to his salary.

Here’s the problem: we’re only in week two. As frustrated as you may be with Cousins, and with Head Coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman for signing him, barring injury, Kirk Cousins IS your quarterback.

Keep in mind that the Vikes were just 2-2 after the first four weeks in 2017, yet finished with a 13-3 record. I’m not promising that, but there is still plenty of time, and I do know that Cousins won’t play any better if fans start getting on him right away at home next Sunday against the Raiders. The coaches have to coach him, his teammates have to support him, and if they want anything good out of this season, Viking fans better dial back the vitriol against Cousins because he’s the one we’re with, for this season, and the next.

The Vikings defense really misses cornerback Mike Hughes. Drafted with Aaron Rodgers in mind, Hughes, like Dalvin Cook before him, shined as a rookie, only to lose most of his first season to an ACL injury. Now, we’re finally seeing what Cook can do, but with Hughes and slot corner Mackenzie Alexander out of the lineup, Rodgers took advantage of Xavier Rhodes early and often. One can only hope that Hughes is back, and at full speed for the rematch in December.