After gradual inaugurate up, Cousins steps lend a hand to forefront for Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS — With league-leading manufacturing from running lend a hand Dalvin Cook and artful play-calling by offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, the Minnesota Vikings helped Kirk Cousins rating lend a hand in a groove this month after his rash of turnovers contributed to the group’s 1-5 inaugurate up.
Cousins wasn’t going in convey to factual linger within the background for prolonged, even though. Chicago’s defense made that obvious on Monday evening, containing Cook with one among basically the most efficient front-seven groups assembled within the NFL. Minnesota’s hyper-scrutinized quarterback went to work, delivering a snatch efficiency that became as soon as about some distance bigger than merely managing a 19-13 victory over the Bears.
“I understanding he played in actuality speedily, which is crucial for him. He became as soon as extremely just. He received the ball within the just locations all evening,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged. “I factual felt love he did a extremely dazzling job of handling what the defense became as soon as giving us.”
Cook reached 96 speeding yards — he also had a modest 16 receiving yards — but wanted 30 carries to rating there. Most of those gains came after standout defensive style out Akiem Hicks left the game with a hamstring hurt.
Cousins achieved 10 of 11 attempts on third downs for 149 yards and a ideal 158.3 passer rating and one sack. Two of those throws went for touchdowns to Adam Thielen and five extra moved the chains for first downs.
“Gary deserves a range of credit rating for sticking to the game planning. He had a conception all week prolonged of tips on how to attack them on third down,” acknowledged Cousins, whose fully turnover became as soon as a second-quarter interception that slipped straight through Thielen’s fingers as Khalil Mack converged on the ball.
Cousins attempted a blended 34 passes while Cook ground up Inexperienced Bay and Detroit in victories over the old two weeks. In defeating Chicago for the first time in three seasons with the Vikings (4-5), Cousins went 25 for 36 for 292 yards and factual one sack. He took six sacks in a 16-6 loss at Soldier Field closing 300 and sixty five days.
“It’s been good to sort of settle ourselves out, win an identity as we play through issues,” Cousins acknowledged. “So I love that half of it. Fair correct love I acknowledged at the bye week after we had 10 video games left, these 10 video games are going to order the sage. Even after three wins, I’d peaceable deliver the identical going forward.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Zimmer acknowledged closing week he suggested his assistants on defense that they’ve been doing their most efficient work as coaches this 300 and sixty five days, alive to in regards to the pandemic-shortened preseason and the quantity of rookies and other inexperienced players being thrust into frequent roles.
The mix of strain from the front four and the blitzes dialed up by Zimmer kept Bears quarterback Prick Foles on his heels all sport and allowed the younger cornerbacks to additional progress. The Bears totaled two first downs and 32 yards on six drives within the second half of.
“Must you’re doing an very excellent job stopping the disappear and you’re no longer continually having to rating a safety alive to, it in actuality opens up all of your play-calling sheet,” safety Harrison Smith acknowledged.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf has if truth be told been basically the most stressed member of the coaching workers this month. The struggles of his items reached a crescendo when Cordarrelle Patterson, the archaic Vikings return ace, took the second-half of kickoff lend a hand 104 yards for a landing that resulted in a sideline tantrum by Zimmer aimed at Maalouf.
Long snapper Austin Slicing despatched lend a hand a grounder to holder Britton Colquitt within the fourth quarter, a botched additional level that would’ve been the disagreement within the game. About five minutes later, the Vikings allowed a 32-yard punt return to Anthony Miller.
STOCK UP
Justin Jefferson is on tempo to damage Minnesota’s rookie-season receiving files diagram by Randy Moss in 1998 for catches (69) and yards (1,313). Jefferson has 42 receptions for 762 yards and is fifth within the league with some extent out of 18.1 yards per rob.
STOCK DOWN
Slicing couldn’t observe this week due to COVID-19 prevention protocols. The second-300 and sixty five days player became as soon as fuming at himself on the sideline after the botched additional level.
“Customarily he’s inspiring dazzling and on occasion he hasn’t been dazzling lately, so we’ll defend working at it,” Zimmer acknowledged.
INJURED
Tight live Irv Smith Jr. became as soon as overlooked both as a receiver and a blocker against the Bears, sidelined for the first time this 300 and sixty five days by a groin hurt. Tyler Conklin had an elevated role in his absence, and Kyle Rudolph contributed four catches for 63 yards, both season highs, while progressively tasked with blocking off Mack, the three-time All-Legit outdoors linebacker. Cornerback Cameron Dantzler overlooked his second straight sport with a concussion.
KEY NUMBER
The Vikings maintain allowed fully seven performs of 20-plus yards over their three-sport a hit toddle, per Sportradar learn. They allowed 29 of those mountainous gains over the first six video games, the third most within the NFL to that level.
NEXT STEPS
The Vikings will be liked to buy each and each their next three video games, all at house against Dallas, Carolina and Jacksonville, teams with a blended 6-22 anecdote. Conserving serve would give them a combating likelihood to style the playoffs entering the closing quarter of the season, when daunting trips to Tampa Bay (7-3) on Dec. 13 and Novel Orleans (7-2) on Dec. 25 are juxtaposed with house video games against Chicago (5-5) and Detroit (4-5).