After Thursday night’s game, quarterback Kirk Cousins admitted it wasn’t completely business as usual.

Cousins helped lead the Vikings to a 19-9 win at U.S. Bank Stadium over Washington, the team he played for from 2012-17. Throughout the night, he tried to not get into much conversation with his former teammates, but that changed after the game.

Cousins, who completed 23 of 26 passes for 285 yards, warmly embraced several Washington players.

“You know them,” Cousins said. “I honestly just wanted to go about my business, so I wasn’t trying to chat them up in between timeouts or breaks and that kind of thing or in warmups and in pregame. I just wanted to go to work and get the job done. But after the game, certainly tell how much they mean to me.”

Cousins mentioned some teammates he spoke to after the game.

“I just saw (tackle) Morgan Moses,’’ Cousins said. “I just wanted to say to him, ‘Thank you for the way you worked,’ … I went on and on with guys, (linebacker) Ryan Kerrigan, (defensive lineman) Matt Ioannidis, (defensive lineman) Jonathan Allen, they’re really good football players and really good people.’’

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer lauded Cousins for how he performed given all the hype of going against the Redskins for the first time since signing a three-year, $84 million contract with Minnesota in March 2018.

“I thought he handled it well,” Zimmer said. “We talked during the week. You always have a little extra motivation when you play your old team. You’re always trying to prove that they were wrong for letting you go or whatever the reason was. So I thought he handled it really well. He’s playing outstanding right now. He’s been on a nice roll for the last four ballgames, and we’re hoping it continues.”

Over the past four games, all Minnesota wins, Cousins has thrown for 1,261 yards and 10 touchdown passes. Cousins didn’t have a touchdown pass Thursday, but the Vikings (6-2) rolled up 434 yards of offense and did what they needed to win.

“At the end of the day, Kirk’s probably going to keep it politically correct, but I know it feels good to win against your old team,’’ said Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who had seven catches for 143 yards.

UNEVEN NIGHT FOR RHODES

Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes has had an uneven season, and that continued Thursday.

Rhodes was beaten on several occasions in the first half. In the second quarter, he had his third pass interference call of the season and seventh overall penalty.

“Hey, this guy has to play like a power forward,’’ Zimmer said. “That’s how he has to play. … He’s not going to play like Mackensie (Alexander) or Mike Hughes or one of these little guys (on the Vikings). He’s got to play as a power forward, and if he gets some penalties he’s going to get some. We talk to him about getting his hands in the right place and don’t grab and those things like that. But his game is being a power forward, and that’s what he has to do.’’

The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Rhodes was penalized 19 yards for pass interference while covering Terry McLaurin. But Zimmer decided not to challenge the call.

“I’m talking to (Rhodes) about being over the top on receivers because that’s what we’re trying to do,’’ Zimmer said. “And I always tell them, if they throw those balls then I need to change the coverage. Now the one down the sideline that was pass interference, whew, I don’t know. I mean, I would have challenged it if I thought that there was any chance of them overturning it. But I got a thing in the email today they haven’t overturned any, so I said screw it.’’

Rhodes was out to start the second half while in the concussion protocol but was able to return.

BAILEY BACK ON TARGET

Vikings kicker Dan Bailey had his streak of eight straight field goals made end last Sunday at Detroit. He started a new streak Thursday.

Bailey made all four of his attempts. They came from 50, 29, 27 and 40 yards.