Finally, head coach Kevin O’Connell replaced Dobbs with Nick Mullens, who — in three 4th quarter drives — managed to push the offense far enough for Greg Joseph to kick a game-winning field goal. Unlike his first attempt earlier in the game, Joseph drilled the game-winning FG from 37-yards and the Vikings somehow escaped Vegas with a 3-0 win.

Related: Raiders Brought in Three Former NFL Head Coaches to Prepare for Vikings

It sure would have been nice seeing Kirk Cousins on our TV screens Sunday, leading the Vikings offense up and down the field, putting up hundreds of passing yards and double-digit points with ease, as if any NFL QB can do it. Well, as we’ve had to quickly re-learn the last handful of weekends, not just any NFL QB can do what Kirk does.

Kirk Cousins to join Monday Night Football’s ManningCast on ESPN2

But… for those of us missing our favorite QB1, there was a consolation prize on Monday night when Kirk joined Peyton Manning and Eli Manning on the ManningCast (ESPN2) during Monday Night Football.

If I was 100% sure I wanted Kirk Cousins back in purple next year, before this ManningCast, I'm at least 350% sure after.

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 12, 2023

His appearance was everything any Vikings fan could have wanted. Hell, it was anything anybody looking to watch great TV could have wanted. Kirk Cousins is nearly as fantastic in a studio (or his house) talking football as he is playing it. Oh, and we found out that Kirk did indeed get one chain of his own. A Kohls Cash chain that his now sponsor sent him.

More style. More savings.@KirkCousins8's @Kohls Cash chain goes HARD 💸😂 pic.twitter.com/SZYCkQWKKl

— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) December 12, 2023

Not only was Kirk funny, witty and a good interview. He was insightful and used the hour-long watch party with the Mannings as an opportunity to pick their brains about certain things and they were happy to do the same with him.

Related: Justin Jefferson Loves His Starting Quarterback Kirk Cousins

I could watch Kirk talk football all day.

They talked about pre-snap motions, among many many other things, about how Mike McDaniel’s slot-receiver motion has changed most NFL offenses instantaneously this season. It’s pretty crazy how quickly smart coaching spreads through the league.

Kirk Cousins talks on the ManningCast about the entire league adopting a genius new pre-snap motion first introduced by Mike McDaniel… this season. Good news travels fast. pic.twitter.com/BWTUaTfprE

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) December 12, 2023

After last night, I will suffer from future QB nightmares until Kirk Cousins is under contract with the Vikings once again. I have a feeling Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings offense feels the same way. I’d be surprised if the Wilfs aren’t in the ‘get Kirk back under contract’ camp, too.

But some day, Cousins is going to finish his football career and slide nicely into a media job of some sort. He’s a natural. Kirk made his debut on the ManninCast last season so this is not his first rodeo with the Manning brothers.

Read more blogs about the Minnesota Vikings

Breaking: Tony Romo and CBS have agreed to a deal that will make him the highest NFL analyst in TV history in a deal that will pay him around $17 million per season, according to sources.

Story up shortly.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) February 29, 2020

Who would have thought NFL broadcaster free agency would be so much better than what involves the actual players this season…? CBS is diving deep into those loaded pocket books to make Tony Romo the highest paid broadcaster in NFL history ($17M/yr), more than doubling the previous record set by John Madden ($8M/yr).

Andrew Marchand (owner of the tweet embedded above) is reporting the deal to be long term, worth a minimum of 5 years and totaling over $100 million.

According to the his Marchand’s article, Disney (owner of ABC and ESPN) was on the verge of pushing $20M/yr toward Tony Romo once he was able to negotiate with other companies, starting in March. ESPN vehemently denies these rumors but they were enough to scare CBS into dropping big time money.

Like the article states much more professionally than I am about to, what the fuck is $17M/yr when you spend billions on your NFL during that same time. It’s a smart investment. The best broadcasters can make you way more than you will ever have to pay them.

After losing out on the Romo sweepstakes before they really even got started, Disney is now going to plan B, which sounds like it will be a lot better than whatever genius inspired their 2019 coverage… which featured Joe Tessitore plus Booger McFarland, playing an over-exaggerated version of that parent who insists on using the biggest iPad possible to record all 40 minutes of their kid riding the bench…

Instead, Disney will lock in on Peyton Manning. Finally, a good decision out of ESPN. I haven’t seen them do something that makes this much sense since they launched Barstool Van Talk (which was cancelled after one record-breaking episode).

The first call is likely to be to Peyton Manning, asking if this is finally the year he wants to try to be an analyst.

With the money Disney was planning to offer Romo and with what Romo is being paid by CBS, Manning would have to listen. If Manning says no, ESPN would have to move to Plan C. ESPN was thinking big with the Romo and the Super Bowl, but CBS had the initial foresight to sign Romo — and they refused to let him go.

Andrew Marchand – New York Post

Everyone loves Peyton Manning and, without seeing it actually unfold in the broadcast booth yet, I can imagine him being even better than Romo. I don’t think Peyton Manning has ever failed at anything. He makes great commercials, great pizza, and even plays one hell of a quarterback.

We’ll see if ESPN can buy Manning’s love. If/when they are able to lock him down, or even if they have to go to plan C for their color commentary, the play-by-play decision should be easy…

Kevin Harlan’s broadcasting career is Minnesota-raised too, so you know his intangibles are off the charts:

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan