Kirk Cousins went from a mediocre quarterback while under pressure to a top 10 passer when Washington's offensive line kept him clean. So goes the pressure applied to this year's Vikings offensive line, which has recently struggled to keep QBs free of defenders.
Pct. of dropbacks in which Vikings QBs faced pressure
2012 2013 2014 2015 20162017
32.1
(19)
35.3
(23)
39.7
(8)
46.7*
(1)
33.1
(T16)
39.3
(T6)
(NFL rank) *2015: Worst in NFL
Cousins' passer rating when under pressure vs. kept clean
PressuredClean
201573.0 (17)115.7 (2)
201672.9 (13)107.2 (8)
201766.3 (19)106.5 (10)
(NFL rank)Source: Pro Football Focus
The Gophers played with more urgency, but it wasn’t enough to keep them from another conference sweep, and they lost LJ Mooney to injury in the process.
