Cousins dominating since drama with Thielen, Diggs

Kirk Cousins torched the Detroit Lions on Sunday, continuing the torrid pace he's enjoyed since drawing the ire of his two star receivers.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback threw for over 300 yards for the third straight game in Week 7, putting up 337 yards and four touchdown passes in a 42-30 win. Over his last three games, the oft-maligned pivot has tossed 10 scores against only one interception.

"Sometimes you just have those games where plays that you didn't think were going to be there are there," Cousins told reporters following Sunday's victory in the Motor City. " ... The last few weeks has been a little more open-it-up and let it fire."

Cousins has aired the ball out frequently over the last three weeks, straying from his typically conservative approach:

Kirk Cousins in 2019

The 31-year-old garnered heavy criticism after taking six sacks and failing to lead a touchdown drive in a woeful Week 4 performance against the Chicago Bears. One of his top pass-catchers, Adam Thielen, publically voiced his frustrations after that loss.

"At some point, you're not going to be able to run the ball for 180 yards, even with the best running back in the NFL," Thielen said at the time. "That's when you have to be able to throw the ball. ... You have to be able to hit the deep balls."

Three days later, the Vikings' other star wideout, Stefon Diggs, skipped practice, prompting rumors he wanted out of Minnesota. Though he didn't confirm he wanted a trade, Diggs admitted he was frustrated with the Vikings' offense.

Cousins wound up apologizing to Thielen, only to have head coach Mike Zimmer dismiss the need for an apology. Zimmer gave his quarterback another vote of confidence Sunday.

"He's playing the best I've seen him play since he's been here," Zimmer said of Cousins, who set up the game-clinching touchdown with a surprising 66-yard bomb to Diggs late in the fourth quarter.

"It's just growing in this offense," said Cousins. "I think we're still a work in progress in the sense that you're going to get more comfortable the more you play."

Cousins will look to continue his tear against the Washington Redskins in a Thursday Night Football matchup in Week 8.

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