Nick Carter, a devoted Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, has playfully warned new Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins that he better enjoy any future Backstreet Boys concerts. The joke stems from Cousins' history of strong performances against Carter's favored team, often accompanied by his signature catchphrase, "You like that?!"
Carter, speaking at the annual charity softball game 'Battle for Vegas,' which gathers athletes and celebrities, seized on Cousins' recent comment about wanting to attend a Backstreet Boys show. "I've heard that," Carter said, referencing Cousins' past success against the Buccaneers. "I’m a huge Buccaneers fan, and every time he played the Bucs he’d walk off saying, ‘You like that?’ So when he comes to a show, I’m going to make sure he likes it."
The origin of Cousins' famous exclamation dates back to October 25, 2015. In a game where his then-Washington team trailed the Buccaneers by 24 points, Cousins led a historic comeback. He finished the game with 33 completions on 40 attempts for 317 yards and three touchdowns, throwing the game-winning score with 24 seconds remaining. As he left the field, Cousins was famously captured shouting, "You like that?!"
Carter's quip is underscored by Cousins' statistical dominance against the Buccaneers. In four regular-season matchups, Cousins has thrown for 1,502 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He maintained a high completion percentage of 73.1%, a passer rating of 118.8, and averaged 375.5 passing yards per game against Tampa Bay.
His performances in recent seasons have continued this trend. In Week 5 of the 2024 season, Cousins led the Atlanta Falcons to a high-scoring game against the Buccaneers, throwing for 509 yards and four touchdowns. Later that season, he was even more efficient against them, completing 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, earning a passer rating of 145.9. His most recent outing against Tampa Bay saw him pass for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
For Cousins, the "You like that?!" line has become an integral part of his NFL identity. Nearly a decade later, it has also provided Nick Carter with a perfect setup for a playful jab as the quarterback prepares to potentially attend a Backstreet Boys concert.