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The Vikings Quarterback In 2018: A Season Of Triumph And Change

Trends January 16, 2025

Who was the Vikings quarterback in 2018? Kirk Cousins was the Minnesota Vikings quarterback in 2018.

Kirk Cousins is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cousins started 16 games for the Redskins in 2015 and 2016, and led the team to the NFC East division title in 2015.

In 2018, Cousins signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Vikings. He started all 16 games for the Vikings in 2018, and led the team to a 8-7-1 record. Cousins threw for 4,298 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2018.

Personal details of Kirk Cousins:| Detail | Information ||---|---|| Born | August 19, 1988 || Birth Place | Holland, Michigan || Height | 6'3" || Weight | 205 lbs || College | Michigan State || NFL Draft | 2012, 4th round, 102nd overall |

Kirk Cousins is one of the most accurate passers in the NFL. He has a career completion percentage of 67.1%, which is 9th all-time among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts. Cousins is also a durable quarterback. He has started all 16 games in each of the past four seasons.

The Minnesota Vikings Quarterback in 2018

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback in 2018 was Kirk Cousins. He was a key part of the Vikings' success that season, leading the team to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round. Here are six key aspects of Cousins' performance in 2018:

Passing yards: 4,298
Touchdowns: 30
Interceptions: 10
Completion percentage: 67.1%
Passer rating: 99.7
Games started: 16

Cousins' performance in 2018 was solid, but not spectacular. He ranked 11th in the NFL in passing yards, 10th in touchdowns, and 12th in passer rating. However, he also threw 10 interceptions, which was tied for 10th most in the NFL. Overall, Cousins was a reliable and productive quarterback for the Vikings in 2018, but he will need to improve his accuracy and decision-making in order to take the next step in his career.

1. Passing yards

Kirk Cousins' 4,298 passing yards in 2018 were a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He ranked 11th in the NFL in passing yards, and his production helped the Vikings to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round.

Passing yards are a measure of a quarterback's production and efficiency. They are calculated by adding up the number of yards gained by a quarterback's completions. Cousins' 4,298 passing yards in 2018 were a career high, and they helped him to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Cousins' passing yards were also a key factor in the Vikings' offensive success in 2018. The Vikings ranked 6th in the NFL in total offense, and Cousins' passing yards were a big part of that success. He was able to spread the ball around to a variety of receivers, and he was also able to make big plays when needed.

Overall, Cousins' 4,298 passing yards in 2018 were a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL, and his production helped the Vikings to a winning record and a berth in the playoffs.

2. Touchdowns

Kirk Cousins' 30 touchdowns in 2018 were a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He ranked 10th in the NFL in touchdowns, and his production helped the Vikings to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round.

Touchdowns are a measure of a quarterback's ability to find the end zone. They are scored when a quarterback throws a pass to a receiver who catches the ball in the end zone, or when a quarterback runs the ball into the end zone himself. Cousins' 30 touchdowns in 2018 were a career high, and they helped him to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Cousins' touchdowns were also a key factor in the Vikings' offensive success in 2018. The Vikings ranked 6th in the NFL in total offense, and Cousins' touchdowns were a big part of that success. He was able to spread the ball around to a variety of receivers, and he was also able to make big plays when needed.

Overall, Cousins' 30 touchdowns in 2018 were a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL, and his production helped the Vikings to a winning record and a berth in the playoffs.

3. Interceptions

Kirk Cousins threw 10 interceptions in 2018, which was tied for 10th most in the NFL. This was a significant increase from his previous two seasons, in which he threw just 7 and 9 interceptions, respectively. There are a number of factors that could have contributed to Cousins' increase in interceptions in 2018, including:

A new offensive system: Cousins was playing in a new offensive system in 2018, which may have taken some time to adjust to. The Vikings also had a number of new players on offense, which could have contributed to some miscommunications and turnovers.
More aggressive play-calling: The Vikings were more aggressive on offense in 2018, which led to more opportunities for interceptions. Cousins was also asked to throw the ball more often, which increased his exposure to turnovers.
Bad luck: Some of Cousins' interceptions in 2018 were simply bad luck. There were a number of passes that were tipped or deflected by defenders, which led to interceptions. Cousins also had a few passes dropped by receivers, which could have resulted in interceptions if the defenders had been able to catch them.

Despite his increase in interceptions, Cousins was still a productive quarterback for the Vikings in 2018. He threw for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, and he led the Vikings to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round. However, Cousins will need to reduce his interceptions in order to take the next step in his career.

4. Completion percentage

Kirk Cousins' completion percentage of 67.1% in 2018 was a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He ranked 11th in the NFL in completion percentage, and his accuracy was a big part of the Vikings' offensive success.

Completion percentage is a measure of a quarterback's accuracy. It is calculated by dividing the number of completions by the number of attempts. Cousins' completion percentage of 67.1% in 2018 was a career high, and it helped him to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Cousins' accuracy was a key factor in the Vikings' offensive success in 2018. The Vikings ranked 6th in the NFL in total offense, and Cousins' accuracy was a big part of that success. He was able to spread the ball around to a variety of receivers, and he was also able to make big plays when needed.

Overall, Cousins' completion percentage of 67.1% in 2018 was a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL, and his accuracy helped the Vikings to a winning record and a berth in the playoffs.

5. Passer rating

Kirk Cousins' passer rating of 99.7 in 2018 was a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He ranked 12th in the NFL in passer rating, and his efficiency was a big part of the Vikings' offensive success.

Passer rating is a measure of a quarterback's overall performance. It takes into account a number of factors, including completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns, and interceptions. Cousins' passer rating of 99.7 in 2018 was a career high, and it helped him to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Cousins' efficiency was a key factor in the Vikings' offensive success in 2018. The Vikings ranked 6th in the NFL in total offense, and Cousins' efficiency was a big part of that success. He was able to spread the ball around to a variety of receivers, and he was also able to make big plays when needed.

Overall, Cousins' passer rating of 99.7 in 2018 was a key part of the Vikings' success that season. He was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL, and his efficiency helped the Vikings to a winning record and a berth in the playoffs.

6. Games started

In the 2018 NFL season, Kirk Cousins started all 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings. This was a significant accomplishment, as it demonstrated his durability and reliability as a quarterback. It also gave him the opportunity to develop a strong rapport with his teammates and coaches, which contributed to the Vikings' success that season.

Durability: Starting all 16 games is a testament to Cousins' durability. He was able to stay healthy and avoid injuries, which is essential for a quarterback to be successful in the NFL.
Reliability: Cousins' ability to start all 16 games also showed his reliability. The Vikings knew that they could count on him to be on the field and lead the team, which gave them a sense of stability and confidence.
Team chemistry: Starting all 16 games also allowed Cousins to develop a strong rapport with his teammates and coaches. This chemistry was evident on the field, as the Vikings were able to execute their game plan and win games consistently.

Overall, Cousins' ability to start all 16 games in 2018 was a key factor in the Vikings' success that season. He proved to be a durable, reliable, and effective quarterback, and he helped lead the Vikings to a winning record and a berth in the playoffs.

FAQs on Vikings Quarterback 2018

This section addresses common questions and misconceptions about the Vikings quarterback in 2018, providing clear and informative answers.

Question 1: Who was the Vikings quarterback in 2018?

Answer: Kirk Cousins was the Minnesota Vikings quarterback in 2018.

Question 2: How many games did Kirk Cousins start in 2018?

Answer: Kirk Cousins started all 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.

Question 3: What was Kirk Cousins' passer rating in 2018?

Answer: Kirk Cousins had a passer rating of 99.7 in 2018, ranking 12th in the NFL.

Question 4: How many touchdowns did Kirk Cousins throw in 2018?

Answer: Kirk Cousins threw 30 touchdowns in 2018, ranking 10th in the NFL.

Question 5: How many interceptions did Kirk Cousins throw in 2018?

Answer: Kirk Cousins threw 10 interceptions in 2018, tied for 10th most in the NFL.

These FAQs provide a concise overview of Kirk Cousins' performance as the Vikings quarterback in 2018. He was a consistent and productive quarterback, leading the Vikings to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round.

Moving on to the next section, we will explore Kirk Cousins' contract and salary details in 2018.

Conclusion

Kirk Cousins' performance as the Vikings quarterback in 2018 was a tale of both promise and shortcomings. He led the Vikings to an 8-7-1 record and a berth in the NFC Divisional Round, but his high number of interceptions raised concerns about his decision-making. Despite these concerns, Cousins remains a talented quarterback with the potential to be a top performer in the NFL. If he can improve his accuracy and decision-making, he could lead the Vikings to even greater success in the future.

The Vikings' success in 2018 was a team effort, and Cousins was just one part of the puzzle. The Vikings had a strong defense, led by Danielle Hunter and Harrison Smith, and a talented running game, led by Dalvin Cook. Cousins benefited from the support of his teammates, and he was able to make the most of his opportunities.

Looking ahead to the 2019 season, the Vikings will need Cousins to continue to improve and develop as a quarterback. He will also need to stay healthy and avoid injuries. If Cousins can do these things, the Vikings will be a contender in the NFC North and a threat to make a deep playoff run.