When your season comes down to a single play, you absolutely have to give your team a chance to succeed. Kirk Cousins did not do that in Sunday’s critical fourth-down play against the Giants.
With New York up seven points and the Vikings looking to tie the game and force overtime, the Vikings faced a fourth-and-eight play from the 48-yard line with just under two minutes to play. And let me tell ya — Cousins is going to have a long offseason thinking about that pass.
Needing eight yards to pick up the first down, Cousins instead checked down to T.J. Hockenson a good five yards short of the marker. The play stood no chance.
Giants deny the Vikings!
📺: #NYGvsMIN on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/uuhRH8WYIn pic.twitter.com/CIPFPUD3Ao— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2023
Obviously, the decision to pass that short of the first down was beyond strange, but it was also weird how quickly Cousins gave up on any vertical pass. He had a way better chance just throwing the ball up to a defended Justin Jefferson than whatever happened on that play.
With that turnover on downs, the Giants ran out the clock to move on to the Divisional round. NFL fans were not exactly pleased with Cousins’ pass either.
This was how Twitter reacted
Kirk Cousins on fourth and 8, and of course he throws underneath.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) January 16, 2023
Kirk Cousins was great for most of the day. Then this happened and it’s all anyone is going to remember. pic.twitter.com/QgdHfm6Nj4
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) January 16, 2023
“Season on the line. 4th down. Need 8 yards.”
Kirk Cousins: pic.twitter.com/e80KKX8EsD
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 16, 2023
Kirk Cousins throwing a 3-yard route on 4th and 8 pic.twitter.com/W0y0PtNpJl
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) January 16, 2023
What a read from Cousins. Barely short of the sticks!
— Jersey Jerry (@Jerrythekid21) January 16, 2023
Kirk Cousins throwing a 3 yard pass on a must have 4th and 8 is why no one has ever taken him seriously
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 16, 2023
Kirk Cousins just now pic.twitter.com/9KlkQWrU5R
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) January 16, 2023
4th & 8 Cousins check down I love it here.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) January 16, 2023
And Kirk Cousins throws it short of the sticks. Of course.
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) January 16, 2023
4th & 8 and a must-have first down
Kirk Cousins: pic.twitter.com/6mgL4Wcbnt
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 16, 2023
Throwin short of sticks on 4th and 8 with season on line is most Kirk Cousins thing ever 😂
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) January 16, 2023
bro coulda thrown it to anyone else and prolly converted https://t.co/YyxuVGFNDu
— Weston (@WestonThunder23) January 16, 2023
