Kirk Cousins will be a Week 1 starter for the 11th time as an NFL quarterback, this season for the Las Vegas Raiders at age 38 in his 15th season.
“He’s played really good football,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said last week. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, a very good camp, and he’s earned it.”
Cousins will start what’s all but guaranteed to be his only season in silver and black Sunday at Allegiant Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. Fernando Mendoza was drafted first in April to be the franchise’s long-term quarterback, but Cousins gets the nod for now as one of the NFL’s most productive passers.
A four-time Pro Bowl honoree, Cousins ranks sixth among active quarterbacks in passing yards (44,700), fifth in touchdowns (298) and ninth in passer rating (96.8).
Here’s how his first 10 Week 1 starts went:
2015 — Cousins debuted as a Week 1 starter in his fourth season with the Washington Commanders, who hosted the Miami Dolphins in what amounted to his 10th career start. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 196 yards, a touchdown and two picks in a 17-10 loss.
A late fourth-quarter drive into Miami territory ended on downs after consecutive incompletions.
2016 — Cousins started a second consecutive season for the Commanders, beaten down at home by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a 38-16 evisceration, he completed 30 of 43 passes for 329 yards with two intercepetions. The Steelers built a third-quarter, three-score lead.
2017 — In his last Week 1 start for Washington, Cousins caught his third straight loss — a 30-17 home defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. In completing 23 of 40 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, he was picked in the fourth quarter down two points.
And also strip-sacked for a touchdown down five in the closing minutes amid four sacks total.
2018 — Cousins signed with the Minnesota Vikings and made the first of six Week 1 starts, winning for the first time on opening day. While hosting the San Francisco 49ers, Cousins went 20 of 36 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns — staking Minnseota a three-score lead in a 24-16 win.
2019 — Minnesota’s rushing offense carried the load in a second straight Week 1 triumph for Cousins, a 28-12 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins rushed for a 1-yard score and went 8-0f-10 passing for 98 yards, helping the Vikings to a 28-0 lead.
2020 — Cousins was on the losing end of a 43-34 shootout at home against the Green Bay Packers, completing 19 of 25 passes for 259 yards two touchdowns and an interception. He also took a first-quarter safety as Aaron Rodgers passed for 364 yards and four touchdowns.
2021 — For the first time as a Week 1 starter, Cousins quarterbacked on the road, losing 27-24 to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Down 10 points in the final quarter — on his way to 36-of-49 passing for 351 yards and two touchdowns — Cousins led a touchdown drive and followed with a field-goal drive from his own 5-yard line in the final two minutes.
A fumble from running back Dalvin Cook allowed a three-and-out for Minnesota in overtime.
2022 — Cousins ensured the Vikings rolled to a 23-7 home win over Green Bay with 277 passing yards (23-of-32 passing) and two touchdowns. His two first-half scores to Justin Jefferson helped Minnesota score a 17-0 halftime lead and coast in the second half.
2023 — In his final Week 1 start for Minnesota, Cousins completed 33 of 44 passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns and a pick in a 20-17 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The pick came in the red zone in the closing moments before halftime and the final possession for Minnesota down three in the fourth quarter ended after a three-and-out.
2024 — Having signed with the Atlanta Falcons to make his most recent Week 1 start, Cousins debuted — and returned from the torn right Achilles that ended his tenure in Minnesota — with two interceptions in an 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards and a score, but his interception with 2:49 to play loomed large.
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
