The Viking Age
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Week 5 winners and losers: Minnesota Vikings vs Houston Texans

By Jordan Wright

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The Minnesota Vikings play the Houston Texans in a wide view of U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The Minnesota Vikings play the Houston Texans in a wide view of U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive back Xavier Rhodes (29) gets introduced before the game against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive back Xavier Rhodes (29) gets introduced before the game against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Xavier Rhodes was coming off two great games, but he regressed some on Sunday against the Texans

Xavier Rhodes sat out the first two games of the season because of injury. When he came back, he was immediately forced to cover two of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Kelvin Benjamin and Odell Beckham Jr.. Rhodes was able to limit both of them to career lows in receiving yards.

In week 5, the Houston Texans came to town with a another great wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. Xavier gave up 56 yards and a touchdown to Hopkins, and that total would have been much higher if the yards awarded due to pass interference were counted. Rhodes was responsible for three penalties on the day, bailing out the Texans’ offense each time.

Rhodes has started to make a case that he is one of the better cornerbacks in the league. Even the best corners have bad days, like Rhodes did today. He will have a couple of weeks to move past this performance before facing off against Jordan Matthews of the Philadelphia Eagles. Matthews is a good receiver, but he isn’t of the same caliber of Benjamin, Beckham or Hopkins. Rhodes should be able to dominate in that game, restoring his position as a premier cornerback in the NFL.

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