The signing of Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons was the only significant quarterback move in the NFC South this summer. The New Orleans Saints’ Derek Carr, the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield will all start in 2024.
Before joining the Falcons, the 12-year-old quarterback in the division faced the Saints five times during the regular season and once in the postseason. He is 1-0 in the playoffs and 2-3 against New Orleans during the regular season.
He completed 69% of his passes for 1,811 passing yards (301.8 per game), 14 touchdowns, and two interceptions in his six games versus the New Orleans Cougars. In his first three games versus the Saints, he averaged 335 passing yards, up from 268.6 in his prior three games.
Cousins played in two of the games when he was still a member of the Washington Commanders. He played against New Orleans for the first time in Week 10 of the 2015 campaign. The quarterback for the Falcons, Cousins, and the Commanders thrashed the Saints 47-14; in the victory, he completed 324 passes for 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. Following this game, Rob Ryan, the defensive coordinator for the Saints, was dismissed, and Dennis Allen, the head coach at the moment, took over as defensive playcaller.
In 2017, New Orleans defeated Washington 34–31 in overtime. With 322 throwing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, the Cousins had another excellent day. With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Washington had a 31-16 lead. However, the Saints later scored two touchdowns and converted a field goal in overtime to win the game.
The following season, against Minnesota, cousins once again produced huge statistics in a defeat. Although Cousins finished with 359 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, New Orleans defeated the Vikings 30–20. After Cousins’ pick-six in the third quarter put the score at 27-13, the game was never close again.
In the 2019 Wild Card round, the Vikings and Saints faced each other once more. The Kirk Cousins vs. New Orleans game is the most contentious one. Though a failed pass interference call cost Minnesota the game, they still prevailed 26–20 in overtime. With the overtime score and no interceptions, Cousins has 242 yards.
Cousins had a fantastic performance in 2020 as well, throwing for 291 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. That was irrelevant, though. On Christmas Day, New Orleans defeated Minnesota 52-33, and Alvin Kamara set a record for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game with six.
Week 4 of the 2022 season saw the most recent Cousins-Saints game take place in London. After throwing for 273 yards, a touchdown, and an interception against New Orleans, Cousins secured his third victory of the season. A last-minute field goal by Minnesota over the Andy Dalton-led Saints won the game, 28-25.
