Kirk Cousins is playing some of the best football of his 15-year career at age 38, slinging a league-leading 11 touchdowns for the Las Vegas Raiders this season. He arrived in Vegas this offseason and it looks like he is hitting a whole new gear, and believe me, the New England Patriots are absolutely feeling the pressure heading into their matchup this week.
The Veteran QB Is Operating At An Elite Level
He’s not flashy, never has been. Kirk Cousins has built a 15-year career in the NFL on steady, consistent play, whether it was in Washington, Minnesota, or Atlanta. It’s the same style he brought to the Raiders, but the results are something else entirely. We’re talking about a guy who’s completed 93 of 144 passes for a 64.6% hit rate and a massive 1,026 yards. That league-leading 11 touchdowns with just four interceptions is straight-up elite. He’s also only been sacked five times and ranks ninth among quarterbacks with 0.214 expected points added per play, which is significantly higher than, say, Drake Maye at 0.049.
Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams summed it up when asked about Cousins’ game, saying it’s all about “Processing information, getting the ball out, getting the ball where it needs to go, giving it to their playmakers.” Linebacker Christian Elliss couldn’t help but acknowledge him as an “amazing veteran quarterback” who “knows how to run an offense well” and “diagnoses defenses well.” This isn’t just good, it’s career-best territory, and everyone’s taking notice.
Chemistry With Kubiak Is Making Magic Happen
What’s the secret sauce? A lot of it has to be the immediate chemistry with first-year head coach Klint Kubiak. They were together in Minnesota, and defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr pointed out, “You can tell that from Week 1 there wasn’t really any slow growth. They hit it. They hit the field running.” That kind of immediate sync-up is rare, and it’s paying off big time. Kuhr added that Kubiak “knows how to use his brains well” and they’re “doing a great job with their big skill and they’re dialing up some good plays to their skill.”
And when you talk about “skill,” you can’t ignore rookie tight end Brock Bowers. This guy is a certified playmaker, and he’s already snagged 16 of Cousins’ passes for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That connection is fire, and it’s making the Raiders offense incredibly dangerous.
Patriots Know They Have To Disrupt The Mastermind
So, how do you stop a 38-year-old quarterback playing like this? It’s a mental chess match, and the Patriots know it. They’re making Bowers a priority this week, no surprise there. But Elliss laid it out clear: they have to impact Cousins himself. “For us it’s about trying to affect him in any way we can,” he said, “and we’ll go from there.” That’s the challenge. You can’t just let him sit back there, process, and deliver those league-leading touchdowns. The Patriots need to find a way to make him uncomfortable, to throw off that rhythm he’s had since Week 1. This isn’t going to be easy, folks, not when Cousins is playing at this level.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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