Kirk Cousins for MVP sounds odd, and it kind of is, especially with the Minnesota Vikings’ 1-2 record and lacking reputation as a legitimate contender in 2021. The MVP award is generally reserved for quarterbacks on teams that make deep playoff runs. For the Vikings, just making the playoffs would be considered a success.

Still, it would be unfair to ignore the magnificent start to 2021 that Cousins is enjoying. He had the best game of his season in Week 3’s win over the Seattle Seahawks when he completed 30-of-38 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. He earned an 82.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, which was actually a tick lower than his grade from Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals (82.9). Through three games this year, Cousins’ 89.1 grade is by far his high watermark with the analytics giant.

Cousins’ exceptional start is being overlooked because, well, he’s on the Vikings. Until they stack some wins together, he’ll continue to be disregarded. His play shouldn’t be. Cousins ranks fourth in the NFL in touchdown passes (8), third in completion percentage (73.9%), and third in passer rating (118.3). If Minnesota was undefeated, the Cousins For MVP chatter would be deafening.

But we’ve been here before with him, haven’t we? Cousins has always been a consistent stats guy. He’s thrown for more than 4,000 yards in five of the last six seasons including a quality 2020 campaign when he threw for 4,265 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Despite that statistical success, the Vikings finished 7-9 and were home for the playoffs.

In 2018, Cousins’ first season in Minnesota, he threw for 4,298 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The Vikings finished 8-7-1. Again, they missed the playoffs.

Sandwiched in between those two seasons was the one year Cousins enjoyed a playoff berth—and a playoff win—in Minnesota. The Vikings finished the season 10-6 (they went 10-5 in games Cousins started), but his numbers weren’t as prolific as those other two years. He finished the season with 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Even if he had played a full 16 games, his stats would’ve been down.

So what gives? Is Cousins a garbage-time quarterback who chews up cheap stats when the Vikings are struggling, but in a good year, when the team is balanced, he’s simply a game manager? According to former New York Giants quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Phil Simms, the answer seems to be no.

“I'm gonna give Kirk Cousins (the credit) we've never given him,” Simms said Tuesday when asked about quarterbacks who are being overlooked. “I applaud him. They (the Vikings) are 1-2, and he hasn't played well; he's played great! But because he's Kirk Cousins, 'Nope, he can't win.' But man, he's slinging it, dead accurate. But nobody cares because the perception is driven by fans, media, radio, and pundits on TV that recite garbage constantly.”

At his current pace, and with the benefit of an extra regular-season game, Cousins will rewrite the Vikings’ passing records this year. He’s tracking for a 5,202-yard season, which would crush Daunte Culpepper’s franchise record of 4,717 yards. Culpepper also holds the single-season passing touchdown record for the Vikings, which he set in 2004 with 39 scores. Cousins is on pace for 45.

The MVP hype is warming up for Cousins in Las Vegas too, where he’s now 40/1 on the board. The favorite—Tom Brady—is 7/1. Cousins’ odds are similar to guys like Teddy Bridgewater (Broncos, 40/1) and Baker Mayfield (Browns, 33/1), both of whom are quarterbacking teams with winning records. If the Vikings get hot, Cousins will become a popular pick.

Is it too soon to start campaigning for Cousins to be the NFL’s MVP? Probably. But it’s time to recognize him for the quality play he provides at the position. He isn’t perfect, and he’ll have his moments when harsh criticism is warranted. For now, though, Cousins is playing like a stud.

The NFC North is far from decided. The Green Bay Packers are the pace car, but their roster has its flaws. The Vikings, led by Cousins, are a sneaky team to monitor over the next couple of weeks. So too are Cousins’ MVP chances.