When quarterback Kirk Cousins was given the opportunity to take credit for the Minnesota Vikings' 28-24 road win over the Dallas Cowboys last month, he did what he's done with the football all season.
He spread the credit around to his teammates.
It was a big win for the Vikings in their push to make the playoffs for the third time in six seasons under head coach Mike Zimmer.
And on a personal level, it was a big win for Cousins. It was his first win on the road against a team with a winning record in the former Michigan State standout's two seasons with the Vikings. He had seven losses and a tie going into the Dallas (now 6-6) game.
Cousins was asked by an NFC media member on the field after the game what the road win meant to him.
"First of all, the Vikings beat a winning team," Cousins said. "Football is a team game. And today I relied on my teammates.
"I was just a part of this big win tonight."
Cousins was coolly efficient against the Cowboys – as he has been most of the season in leading the Vikings to an 8-4 won-loss record going into Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions
He completed 23 of 32 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns without an interception or a fumble. He got help from a running game that produced 153 yards, and from a defense that limited the Cowboys to 50 yards on the ground.
The Vikings are a game behind the first-place Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. A 37-30 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks Monday night kept them from catching the Packers.
"I think this was an opportunity we missed," Cousins told reporters after the game. "It's disappointing. After a game like tonight, I'd like to get out there tomorrow and play the next one."
Quarterbacks make a difference in the playoff race, and Cousins has been a difference maker this year.
He did not deliver the way the Vikings hoped he would last season when they signed him as a free agent after five seasons with the Redskins.
Cousins threw a career-high 30 touchdown passes, but turnovers – an old problem – haunted him again. He had 10 interceptions and lost seven fumbles as the Vikings fell to an 8-7-1 record after wining the North the previous year with a 12-4 record.
With four games left he has 23 TD passes against four interceptions and only three lost fumbles.
View photos from Lions-Vikings matchups in Minnesota through the years.
Detroit Lions center/guard Graham Glasgow (60) and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Damon Harrison (98) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) intercepts a pass during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) celebrates a pass breakup during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018 in Minneapolis. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Detroit Lions free safety Glover Quin (27) and strong safety Miles Killebrew (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Minneapolis. The Lions won 14-7. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (92) deflects a Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) pass-attempt in the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 14-13. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, left, runs from Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway (52) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson catches a touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings safety Jamarca Sanford (33) during the second half an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas (26) runs after a fumble recovery followed by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin (23) during their NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Andy King)
Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith, center, runs against Minnesota Vikings' Madieu Williams (20) and Kevin Williams (93) in the first quarter of their NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy King)
Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson runs for yardage in an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon, left, keeps an eye on Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams as he pulls in a pass from Jon Kitna for a first down in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions linebackers Boss Bailey, top right, and safety Daniel Bullocks (27) tackle Minnesota Vikings running back Artose Pinner, center, after a 9-yard gain during NFL football action in the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington (3) drops back for a pass under pressure from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Erasmus James (99) during the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones (34) evades Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chris Claiborne (55) as he runs for a 12-yard gain during the first quarter in Minneapolis, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington (3) looks for a receiver in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday Oct. 13, 2002, in Minneapolis. Harrington finished with 25 completions on 41 attempts, and 309 yards passing. The Vikings won, 31-24. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
The ball bounces away from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss (84) with Detroit Lions defenders Robert Bailey, left and Ron Rice moving in on the play during the second quarter Sunday, Jan. 2, 2000 in Minneapolis. Rice came up with an interception on the play. The Vikings beat the Lions 24-17. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Herman Moore celebrates after his game-winning touchdown on a pass from quarterback Scott Mitchell in the final seconds of the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis, Sunday, Dec. 14, 1997. The Lions beat Minnesota 14-13. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)
Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders runs for short yardage during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 1, 1996, in Minneapolis. The Vikings went on to beat the Lions 17-13.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)
Detroit Lions Dick LeBeau (44) reaches for Minnesota Viking's Bob Grim (27) who missed pass on goal line from Viking quarterback Gary Cuozzo in first half of National Football Conference game on Sunday, Nov. 15, 1970 in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions Mike Lucci (53) dumps Minnesota Viking Ball carrier Bill Brown for a 2-yard gain in first half of NFL game in Twin Cities at Minneapolis, on Sunday, Nov. 12, 1967. Minnesota and Detroit tied, 10-10. (AP Photo/RW)
"I always said I continue improving," Cousins said. "Even though I'm in year eight, I'm better than I was in year seven."
Cousins has performed steadily, regardless of circumstances and injuries.
Adam Thielen, the Vikings' top receiver in 2018 with 113 catches, has played briefly in only one game since Week 7, when he sustained a hamstring injury on a touchdown catch in the first 10 minutes of a 42-30 win over the Lions. Cousins threw four TD passes in that game.
"Each week he seems to continue to build on everything that he's been doing." Zimmer said in a conference-call interview. "He's taking good care of the football. He's making some great throws.
"I think the things that we're trying to do with him helped his game, and he's really bought in to everything we're trying to do."
