Jennings & Cassel – An Explosive Combination
By Adam Carlson
Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings (15) celebrates his touchdown during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Many fans were skeptical when the Vikings brought in Greg Jennings as a free agent from Green Bay during the offseason. His history of injury coupled with uncertainty at the quarterback position in Minnesota made it appear as though the team may have bitten off more than they could chew with Jennings. However, Greg Jennings is looking like a true number one wide receiver with Matt Cassel throwing him the football.
Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel (16) passes against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Jennings recorded his best game as a Viking on Sunday against the Eagles. He was targeted 13 times by Cassel and managed to reel in 11 of those passes for a total of 163 yards and a touchdown. The wide receiver has only had more than 163 yards one time in his NFL career. That was back in 2008 when Jennings was a member of the Green Bay Packers and registered 167 yards against the Detroit Lions.
Quarterback Matt Cassel has played for 10 of the last 12 quarters of Vikings football. In those games, Jennings has a total of 23 catches for 294 yards and two touchdowns. In contrast, during the other 10 games of the year, Jennings accumulated only 36 catches for 439 yards.
With the combination of Cassel and Jennings heating up, it appears as though the Vikings could have found their starting quarterback for next year, and he might already be on the roster.