Whoever wins this weekend’s Lions-Bucs playoff game is going to represent the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl. Well, that’s if the Kirk Cousins Curse holds true to form.

It’s apparently a thing that’s been floating around the internet over the previous couple days. The curse is based on the fact that no team has lost to Kirk Cousins and played in the Super Bowl the same year.

Let’s dive in to see if it adds up…

2012-13 Super Bowl: Baltimore-San Francisco

Cousins made his first career start in Week 14 and led Washington to a win over teh Cleveland Browns. So far, the Cousins Curse holds true to form as the Browns did not reach the Super Bowl.

2013-14 Super Bowl: Seattle-Denver

Cousins started three games in 2013 and Washington lost all of them, though none of them were to the Super Bowl contenders Seattle and Denver. The curse is now 2 for 2.

2014-15 Super Bowl: New England-Seattle

Cousins made five starts, losing four and beating Tennessee in Week 7. The Titans did not make it to the Super Bowl. If you’re keeping track, the curse is now 3 for 3.

2015-16 Super Bowl: Denver-Carolina

This is the first season Cousins became a full-time starter and he led Washington to nine wins. His victims: St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles (x2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys. The curse is 4 for 4.

2016-17 Super Bowl: New England-Atlanta

Cousins and Washington won eight games over the Giants, Browns, Ravens, Eagles (twice), Vikings, Packers and Bears. None of them made the Super Bowl, so the curse is 5 for 5.

2017-18 Super Bowl: Philadelphia-New England

Seven wins in 16 starts for Cousins and they came against the Rams, Raiders, 49ers, Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals and Broncos. Make it a perfect 6 for 6 for the curse.

2018-19 Super Bowl: New England-Los Angeles

The 2018 Vikings won eight games behind Cousins, with the wins coming against the 49ers, Eagles, Cardinals, Jets, Lions (twice), Packers and Dolphins. Not seeing the Patriots and Rams on that list, so the curse is 7 for 7.

2019-20 Super Bowl: Kansas City-San Francisco

Cousins led Minnesota to 10 victories over the Falcons, Raiders, Giants, Eagles, Lions (twice), Commanders, Cowboys, Broncos and Chargers. 8 for 8.

2020-21 Super Bowl: Tampa Bay-Kansas City

These Vikings won just seven of Cousins’ 16 starts: Texans, Packers, Lions (twice), Bears, Panthers and Jaguars. 9 for 9. 2021-22 Super Bowl: Los Angeles-Cincinnati

The 2021 Vikings went 8-8 behind Cousins, with wins over the Seahawks, Lions, Panthers, Chargers, Packers, Steelers and Bears (twice). 10 for 10.

2022-23 Super Bowl: Kansas City-Philadelphia

Cousins and the Vikings erupted for 13 wins over 12 different teams, effectively eliminating them from Super Bowl contention because of the curse. The victories came against the Packers, Lions, Saints, Bears (twice), Dolphins, Cardinals, Commanders, Bills, Patriots, Jets, Colts and Giants. 11 for 11.

The math checks out.

Throughout Cousins’ career, he has faced one or both of the teams that have gone on to play in that season’s Super Bowl 10 times, and he’s lost all 10 games.

So what does it mean for the eight teams still alive in this year’s playoffs?

Green Bay and San Francisco are the only teams still playing that were beaten by Cousins this season. The Buccaneers beat Minnesota in Week 1, the Chiefs beat the Vikings in Week 5 and Detroit didn’t play the Vikings before Cousins’ season-ending injury.

Baltimore, Houston and Buffalo did not play the Vikings this season.

In other words, the NFC will be represented by the Lions for the first time in the Super Bowl era or Baker Mayfield is about to lead the Bucs on an improbable playoff run. The AFC is up for grabs.

Sorry, San Francisco and Green Bay. It’s just the way it goes with the Kirk Cousins Curse.