The construction of the Vikings’ roster does not require them to win games by leaning on Kirk Cousins the way the Packers often have to do with Aaron Rodgers. They gave Cousins a three-year, $84 million deal with the belief he could augment a team that went 13-3 a year ago, rather than having to make up for its deficiencies.
Still, the price the Vikings paid Cousins -- after saying goodbye to two quarterbacks who had won division titles for them -- comes with the expectation that the 30-year-old will have nights where he can be the difference in an otherwise close game.