Kirk Cousins has firmly entered the MVP discussion.
Earlier this week, we took an early look at potential MVP candidates. Now, there’s a name we need to add to the mix:
Kirk Cousins.
It’s not just because he threw for a career-high and franchise-record 509 yards in an overtime win against the Buccaneers on Thursday night. With two NFC South victories in just four days, the Falcons have taken control of their division. If they continue winning and secure the top seed in the NFC, Cousins will become one of the leading contenders for the MVP award.
In most cases, the MVP goes to a quarterback unless a running back or receiver has a historic season. (No receiver has ever had a season good enough to win the MVP.) And unless a quarterback from a lower-seeded team does something extraordinary, the MVP will likely go to the quarterback of one of the top seeds.
Can the Falcons claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC? Absolutely. Four weeks into the season, the conference doesn’t have a dominant team. There’s no clear Super Bowl favorite or team destined to control the NFC’s path to the championship.
Sure, the Vikings are off to a 4-0 start, but they still have more to prove before they can be compared to their 2009 (No. 2 seed) or 1998 (No. 1 seed) teams. Meanwhile, the NFC East is a chaotic race, with Cousins’ former team currently leading the pack.
The 49ers are the team most likely to shift into high gear and claim the top spot in the NFC. If the 49ers hit their stride, it won’t be easy for the Falcons and Cousins—who is a favorite of Kyle Shanahan—to go into San Francisco and pull off a win.
That’s been the issue with Cousins-led teams in the playoffs. They’re good enough to get there, but not good enough to beat that year’s powerhouse.
Maybe this season, though, they’ll become the powerhouse.