In the world of NFL folklore, few myths are as intriguing as the “Kirk Cousins Curse.” This peculiar belief suggests that any team that loses to Kirk Cousins in a regular season game is doomed to never win the Super Bowl that year. Let’s dive into the origins and details of this fascinating curse.
Origins of the Curse
The Kirk Cousins Curse began to gain traction around 2016. That year, the Green Bay Packers, after losing to Cousins’ Washington team, were eliminated in the NFC Championship game by the Atlanta Falcons. This pattern of playoff disappointment for teams that lost to Cousins in the regular season continued, giving rise to the myth.
The Curse in Action
Since its inception, the curse has claimed several high-profile victims:
- 2016: The Green Bay Packers lost to Cousins’ Washington team and were later defeated in the NFC Championship.
- 2017: The Los Angeles Rams, after losing to Cousins, were knocked out in the Wild Card Round.
- 2018: The Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to Cousins, were eliminated in the Divisional Round.
- 2019: The Eagles again fell victim to the curse, losing in the Wild Card Round.
- 2020: The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers both lost to Cousins and were eliminated in the Wild Card and NFC Championship rounds, respectively.
Recent Developments
The curse has continued to be a topic of discussion, especially as teams prepare for the Super Bowl. For instance, the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to Cousins‘ team in the 2024 regular season, are now facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Many fans and analysts are watching closely to see if the curse will strike again.
Breaking the Curse
Interestingly, the only way to seemingly break the curse is to have Kirk Cousins on your team. However, this has not proven to be a successful strategy for winning the Super Bowl either, as Cousins himself has only one playoff win in his career.
Conclusion
Whether you believe in the Kirk Cousins Curse or not, it adds an extra layer of intrigue to the NFL season. As teams battle it out on the field, the shadow of this myth looms large, reminding everyone that in the world of sports, anything can happen.