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Vikings kicker Blair Walsh wins Bridgestone Performance of the Week

By Adam Carlson

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Recently, things have been rough for Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh.  He was in a huge slump that had some fans screaming at their televisions and calling for his release.  Meanwhile, other fans were calling for some patience, as they have seen Walsh be successful before and believed he would break out of his cold streak.

Despite missing an extra point in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, Blair Walsh had an impressive outing, knocking through all 5 of his field goal attempts to help the Minnesota Vikings top their division opponent 28-19.

His performance didn’t go unnoticed, as Walsh was named the winner of the Bridgestone Performance of the Week according to Vikings.com.  Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer spoke with him before the game about how important making the kicks would be in this contest.

"“It was big. We missed three kicks here last year, so we lost nine points and we lost by (two),” Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said. “So I talked to him (Saturday) night and I talked to the team last night, ‘We have to make the kicks,’ and he made five today. So that’s 15 points and we won by nine.”"

Oct 25, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings punter

Jeff Locke

(18) and kicker Blair Walsh (3) celebrate a field goal during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

That is the kind of kicking that the Minnesota Vikings need from Blair Walsh going forward and should help quiet the critics for a bit.  Being able to put points on the board when the offense stalls is the job of a good kicker, and Walsh has proven in the past that he can get it done.

Importantly, Walsh connected on two kicks that were 50 yards or longer, showing that he still has the leg and accuracy that we saw during his franchise record-breaking rookie year.

"“It’s been almost a year, and to see two longer distance kicks go in is so big for me,” Walsh said."

You can see Blair Walsh on Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings travel to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears on November 1, 2015.  Check your local listings for time and availability.

Next: Minnesota Vikings 2015 Game By Game Previews

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