If the Minnesota Vikings are earnestly trying to resuscitate their 0-3 season, they picked an awful way to start on Sunday. After Minnesota drove down in the red zone against the Carolina Panthers on its first possession, Kirk Cousins reared his ugly (quarterback) head.
The veteran lofted up a terrible pass that Sam Franklin Jr. picked to go the other way. But Cousins wasn’t done. He took a good angle and heroically tried to make up for his mistake by at least trying to make the tackle and prevent a 99-yard pick-six.
Cousins’ plan went swimmingly until Carolina’s D’Shawn Jamison saw a clean shot at a vicious block. He didn’t waste it:
Sam Franklin from the one-yard line. 99-yard Pick-6 for Carolina!
📺: #MINvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/8FIfPD1zDh— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
Look, I’m almost never going to frown upon a quarterback trying to finish a play. The Vikings are in a place with no margin for error. They can’t afford to fall behind the eight-ball with avoidable defensive touchdowns. But Cousins’ attempt at heroics couldn’t have turned out more disastrous.
And the Vikings paid for it.
This is how Twitter reacted
Vikings have a long standing tradition of the QB getting bodied during a pick-6. https://t.co/xL6gQoDAvY pic.twitter.com/JcZOQ1339c
— My name's Matt but you can call me Matub (@CallMeMatub) October 1, 2023
Never heard of D’Shawn Jamison in my life but he was looking for BODIES https://t.co/WNiyCJGXID
— Lucas (@NotMikeTolbert) October 1, 2023
kirk cousins YOU are a new york jet ! https://t.co/dUoPr546tU
— mansur🕊️ (@mansurshaheen) October 1, 2023
I cannot stop laughing at the hit Kirk took. Omg 💀💀💀 https://t.co/ZoWF8NQmPd
— Kimberly (@kimcollelo) October 1, 2023
D'Shawn Jamison shifted gears to light Kirk up, watch how far back he comes from lmao https://t.co/JmG7Oscj78
— Matt C. Shoot (@ConfirmedShoot) October 1, 2023
Slowing down so Kirk could get absolutely leveled by a blocker. Beautiful https://t.co/3d6eUDoWnF
— Moth (@TheAbyssOfWhoa) October 1, 2023
Kirk sprinting 70 yards the other way just to get absolutely dumpstered 😂 https://t.co/kROpoFULIe
— Bryan (@twofacedmonster) October 1, 2023
Undoubtedly the most Kirk Cousins play of all time https://t.co/loL5yGqpqJ
— kyle (@kyledxniel) October 1, 2023
Oof. Knew it was a pick six before he even threw that ball.
Kirko Painz. https://t.co/vFsuhUsEy4
— Adam Hirshfield (@ahirshfield) October 1, 2023