On Sunday, Minnesota Vikings fans watched one of the most incredible games and offensive performances in the team’s history against their division rival Green Bay Packers.
Although the running game saw little success, the Minnesota Vikings’ prolific passing game stunned the Lambeau Field crowd through most of their contest with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Of the cumulative 480 yards that the Vikings accrued in the game against the Packers’ defense, 425 of them came through the air.
New Green Bay defensive coordinator Mike Pettine deployed the Packers’ defensive secondary with astute design to begin Sunday’s matchup. But with excellent pass protection in the second half, Minnesota found zone seams and mismatches consistently.
Vikings Offensive MVP – Week 2
Kirk Cousins, QB
Cousins was, at one time, the highest paid player in NFL history this year. He may have stepped back from that line by now, but his play on Sunday, in his first start against Green Bay in a Vikings uniform, certainly established his value as the leader of this team moving forward.
On Sunday, Cousins completed 35 of 48 passes for 425 yards, four touchdowns, and one pick that went off the hands of Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
The Minnesota quarterback threw passes into tight windows and just over the hands of reaching defenders. He looked off safeties and corners and delivered the ball on short, intermediate, and long routes with accuracy.
Cousins even took a couple of sound defensive sacks, rather than forcing the balls into play. With a clinical confidence and the coolest of countenance, he made three superlative throws that may have surprised even his most staunch supporters.
A 75-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver Stefon Diggs to bring the trailing Vikings back into the game, a perfectly lofted 22-yard touchdown dart to receiver Adam Thielen at the end zone pylon, and an exquisite end zone fade ball to Diggs for a two-point conversion that tied the game with seconds remaining.
You like that? Yes sir, we do.
Honorable Mentions:
Stefon Diggs, WR
Of Diggs’ nine grabs for 128 yards, three were absolutely crucial.
One was a stab of a low Cousins throw at the goal line to bring the Vikings’ back from a 20-7 deficit. another was the aforementioned bomb that he hauled in for a touchdown to make it 23-21, and lastly, his two-point conversion catch that came off a dazzling “stick” move into the corner of the end zone, tying the game.
Diggs doesn’t celebrate as much as he used to. But with scoring catches like that, he certainly deserves to. His connection to Cousins has already surpassed his rapport with former Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum when it comes to the precision passing game.
Adam Thielen, WR
Not since legendary wideout Randy Moss played for their team have Vikings fans seen receiver separation from defenders like that displayed by Thielen.
His reputation as one of the NFL’s best pass-pattern practitioners was illustrated in full on Sunday against Green Bay.
With 12 receptions for 131 yards and one of most remarkable exhibits of concentration in team history with a closing minute touchdown catch, Thielen is indeed one of Minnesota’s favorite sons, and that has nothing to do with the fact that he’s from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.