USA TODAY International Edition
Wilson, Cousins renew connection on ‘ MNF’ stage
SEATTLE – When Russell Wilson made the decision to transfer to Wisconsin for his final college season, he became connected with Kirk Cousins.
It started that season when Wilson’s Badgers and Cousins’ Michigan State squad played a pair of memorable games, including a Big Ten championship game won by Wilson. It continued that offseason as the pair ended up working out together at the same facility to get ready for the NFL draft.
Now in their eighth NFL seasons, they are again connected because of the success of their teams and their individual performances.
“I’ve spent a lot of one- onone time with him just talking about life and everything else. It’s been cool just getting to know him,” Wilson said of Cousins. “Like I said, he’s a great football player. He’s a great competitor.”
Amid possibly the best seasons of their careers, Wilson and Cousins will reunite Monday night when the Seahawks host the Vikings in a key matchup for the NFC playoff picture.
Last year when the teams met in December in Seattle, it was wild- card positioning at stake, and Wilson got the better of Cousins on a night neither was that great. This time, it’s the division title races of concern. Seattle ( 9- 2) is on the heels of San Francisco in the NFC West. Minnesota ( 8- 3) is locked up with Green Bay in the NFC North but dropped the first matchup with the Packers, with another coming in Week 16.
“I don’t know of a game that we play where it’s lackadaisical and not that much intensity or not that much on the line, but certainly a night game in Seattle with two teams having good seasons so far, there is a lot there, and I think that’s what makes it fun,” Cousins said. “It’s a lot more fun to play in a game like this with a lot on the line against a really strong opponent than if you’re in the back of the pack and struggling.”
While Wilson has been in the middle of the MVP conversation seemingly from the start of the season, the year being put together by Cousins is pretty good, too. Entering Week 13, Cousins leads the league in passer rating at 114.8; Wilson is second at 112.1. Wilson has 24 TD passes and three interceptions. Cousins has 21 TDs and three picks. Cousins has completed 70.6% of his passes; Wilson 67.3%.