The big game came Sunday as the Vikes traveled to the Motor City to take on an improved Detroit Lions team. I was worried two fold as I knew the Lions would come in mad after the controversial loss at Green Bay and if the Vikes would lose the chance to win the NFC North would take a huge hit. The Vikes already have lost to the Packers and Bears and simply can’t afford a loss at Detroit.
The way the first quarter was going and I see the Detroit offense moving the ball as they did most of the day I saw the Lions score and making it 7-0 and seeing the fans and the Lions pumped.
What I did like all game Sunday was the Vikes offense able to punch back and match touchdown for touchdown. It really was a strange offensive game as typically the Vikes-Lions games have been low scoring recently in fact the Vikes won both games last season and the Lions did not get a touchdown in either game.
I loved how the Vikings offense has Kirk Cousins rolling out and use play action as Sunday it worked to perfection seemingly every time.
The fist Viking touchdown was one of beauty as Kirk put the ball where only Adam Thielen could catch it and did he ever, but as we know it was Thielen’s last play of the game as he left with an injury.
The Lions march and again go up but I can copy and paste as the Vikes match them with another touchdown and this one goes to rookie, Olabisi Johnson which was his first ever NFL touchdown. Yes the man who stepped in for Thielen I thought did a great job when called upon.
The Vikes actually get the go ahead touchdown as Cousins finds fullback, CJ Ham who caught his first NFL touchdown in his career. Ham played college football at Augustana College is Sioux Falls, South Dakota so a big moment for Ham and his family.
These Lions were pesky as the Vikes just could not stop the Lions as often as I would have liked and once again we are tied 21-21. We had a shootout in the Motor Coty which I am a fan of. I love offensive games big time.
The Vikes once again later in the game have a first of the year as Kirk find Tight End, Kyle Rudolph for his first touchdown of the season in fact first tight end touchdown of the year and made the score 35-20. I have been mystified all year with the lack of use of Kyle and the rest of the tight ends. On Sunday both Rudolph and rookie tight end, Irv Smith Jr both came up with big catches all game Sunday.
The game played by the offense was so impressive because the fact the Lions did get three touchdowns the Vikes offense got six on the day with two coming by way of Dalvin Cook’s 2 touchdown runs.
I can’t help myself by saying but this man Cook’s name must be in the early conversation of NFL MVP. He has a monster game in getting 142 yards rushing. The man's runs are simply put, amazing especially the one that essentially ended the Lions hopes.
The words red zone are talked about heavily in the NFL and Sunday the Vikings were in the rec zone five times and five times they got touchdowns.
One area that does not get enough credit as we know Cousins gets the praise as well as receivers, tight ends and running backs but none of this can happen without the offensive line. I had been critical of the pass protection by the offensive line but the last three weeks the line has played lights out as Kirk was not sacked once by the Lions.
It was such an impressive offensive performance that I was not the only one happy as I saw Coach Zimmer presented game balls to not only Cousins he gave a game ball to every offensive player and I don’t know if I have ever seen that.
The offense was awesome to watch and I did enjoy the pressure the front seven did put on Matthew Stafford it’s the secondary that is concerning and to pin point more the play of Xavier Rhodes and Trae Wayne leaves me holding my breath when I see a pass coming their way.
You know Rhodes s frustrated when he breaks his helmet after slamming it down on the turf. The first quarter had way too many defensive holding penalties that can really be a gift to the offense as its five yards and an automatic first down. In all fairness I believe a hold can be called on every play by wither side of the ball as it’s just a matter of who gets caught.
I did have to laugh as I saw a Lions fan in the front row in a referee shirt and the man had a yellow flag in his hand and he promptly dropped it onto the turf from his front row. This issue of missed calls is way out of hand and I have no idea how to fix it.
The Vikes are now on a three game win streak and in that Cousins has thrown for 300 yards or more and his passer rating has been over 130 in those games.
The Vikes have had two bad losses but is playing like the team I had hoped for when the season started and the way they are playing it’s hard to not be excited.
We have a huge game Thursday night as the Vikings host the terrible Washington Redskins. I say it’s huge because it’s a chance to make a national statement when they crush the Redskins an then its 10 days off to the next game.
Thank you for reading
Purplestick
SKOL!!!
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