Two Key Wins in 2023 Would Make Kirk Cousins the 5th QB in NFL History to Defeat All 32 Teams
In the vast and storied history of the National Football League, only four quarterbacks have achieved the remarkable feat of defeating all 32 teams. These legendary figures—Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre—occupy a hallowed place in the annals of football greatness.
Kirk Cousins Chasing NFL History
In 2023, Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins stands on the precipice of joining this elite group. Kirk has defeated 30 of the 32 NFL teams, at one point or another during his career. He needs wins vs just two more teams, the Kansas City Chiefs (week 5) and Cincinnati Bengals (week 15), in order to notch another piece of NFL history to his accolade belt.
Kirk Cousins will become the 5th QB in NFL history to beat all 32 NFL teams if the Vikings win the following games this season 👀
— Dominique Clare (@DomClare) September 28, 2023
vs Chiefs – October 8th
@ Bengals – December 17th pic.twitter.com/U80S3pnpA3
As fate would have it, the Vikings are struggling to win games early in the 2023 season (0-3), and future victories over two of the best QB’s in football, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, will be no easy ask. The Chiefs, reigning Super Bowl champions, and the Bengals, last season’s AFC title game contenders, present formidable obstacles.
The Vikings, currently with odds at +8000 to win the Super Bowl and buried in the NFL Power Rankings, are likely to be underdogs in both matchups, making Cousins’ quest even more compelling. Only two active NFL quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers (Jets) and Russell Wilson (Broncos), have defeated more of the league’s teams than Kirk Cousins.
Related: Potential Kirk Cousins to Jets Trade Continues to Gain Steam
Their former employers (Packers – Rodgers and Seahawks – Wilson) are the only teams standing in the way of both QBs, in their quest to beat all 32 teams but neither has their former squad on the 2023-24 schedule. Matthew Stafford can tie Cousins, with a Rams win later this season vs the Steelers. But he’d still be two short. Cousins, on the other hand, has a feasible path to making history this season, even if it’s a challenging one.
The oddsmakers don’t trust Cousins to pull it off, however. Entering the 2023 season, both Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson had better odds of becoming the 5th NFL QB to defeat all 32 NFL teams than Cousins, according to Minnesotabets.com.
| Quarterback | Teams Beaten | % Chance to be next | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | 31 | 16.7% (1st) | +500 |
| Russell Wilson | 31 | 14.3% (1st) | +600 |
| Kirk Cousins | 30 | 11.1% (1st) | +800 |
| Derek Carr | 26 | 9.1% (1st) | +1000 |
| Matthew Stafford | 29 | 5.0% (1st) | +1900 |
| Other | – | 44.4% (1st) | +125 |
Competitors on the Horizon
Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford have 26 and 29 teams defeated, respectively. Both need multiple wins over the next few seasons. Meanwhile, the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, are chopping away at the list of 32 teams with every year that goes by.
But for now, Cousins stands as the only contender who has a realistic chance of making history in 2023. And given the team’s 0-3 start, should he manage to take down both the Chiefs and Bengals this season, it could mark a turning point for the Vikings and their passionate fan base.
Related: Check Your Eyes: Vikings Offensive Line Grades Out as One of NFL’s Best Through 3 Weeks
Kirk has 358 passing yards per game, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 108, through three games so far this season.
Kirk Cousins was close to accomplishing this feat awhile back. The Vikings took a tough loss to the Chiefs in 2019, without Patrick Mahomes. And don’t forget about the 2021 heartbreaking OT defeat to the Bengals, in the season opener.
This season, despite the Vikings’ winless start, Cousins leads the league in passing touchdowns, showcasing his prowess on the field. The narrative surrounding Kirk continues to evolve as he knocks down negative narrative after negative narrative. Being the star in the Netflix show “Quarterback” didn’t hurt his image either.
The Unpredictability of the NFL
As the NFL season unfolds, it’s essential to acknowledge the unpredictable nature of the league. Recent developments, such as Aaron Rodgers suffering a season-ending Achilles tear, remind us of the volatility that can reshape the landscape in an instant.
An MRI confirmed today that Aaron Rodgers officially tore his Achilles on the fourth play of his Jets’ career.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2023
Rodgers’ season now, officially, is over. There already are questions about whether his Hall-of-Fame career is, too.
For Cousins, the journey is not just about personal accolades but also about steering the Vikings toward playoff contention. The road ahead may be challenging at 0-3, but if there’s one constant in the NFL, it’s the potential for unexpected triumphs and the ability of players like Kirk Cousins to redefine their legacies.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Cousins, eagerly anticipating whether he can overcome the odds, conquer the Chiefs and Bengals, and etch his name alongside the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history alongside getting his team in the playoff mix. The quest for greatness continues, and for Kirk Cousins, the opportunity is ripe for the taking.
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Dominique Clare | Minnesota Sports Fan
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