Minnesota Vikings: three players due for a breakout game against the Jets

Will the real Kirk Cousins reveal himself?

Few passers are maligned as much as Kirk Cousins. From the moment it was announced that Cousins agreed to a contract to play for the Vikings he was under siege by scrutiny.

When he takes the field with the Vikings tomorrow Cousins will face the Jets team he spurned during NFL free agency. Cousins turned down a $90 million offer from the Jets to get $84 million fully guaranteed from the Vikings. Now he will get a chance to show what the Jets and other teams missed out on.

Cousins has not been a disappointment for the Vikings. In fact, Pro Football Focus gives Cousins a favorable 80.6 rating. That makes him one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, however, he still is only ranked as the 12th best passer. The signature game has eluded Cousins this season. He now faces a Jets’ secondary that is vastly underrated.

If Cousins can somehow expose the Jets when they play in their soft coverages he will have a strong game. Can Cousins put together a 300-yard passing game with zero turnovers? If he does then all signs point to a Vikings win. Cousins will need a great game to keep pace with the Jets’ offense.