DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 23: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings is tackled by Quandre Diggs #28 of the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field on December 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 23: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings makes a touch down catch in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
The good stuff from Week 16
Those big plays!Kirk Cousins can air out the football. In the first half, he bombed a 40 yarder to Adam Thielen which set up a Stefon Diggs touchdown and hit Kyle Rudolph on a Hail Mary pass to end the second quarter. Those big plays helped to give the Vikings the lead at the half, something that seemed unlikely after the cold start.
Getting those wheels turning.Dalvin Cook can be so good at making players miss and getting yards after contact. He ran the ball 16 times for 73 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and making plays when it looked like he was going to be stuffed at the line or scrimmage or even behind it.
Filling in well. With Eric Kendricks out this week, the Vikings called on backup linebacker Eric Wilson. Wilson proved to be a solid play against the Lions, leading the team with nine tackles (eight of them being solo) and one sack. Not only that, but he hit the Detroit quarterback three times!
An excellent passing performance. Kirk Cousins completed 21 of his 28 passes on the day for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Even better is that he didn’t throw an interception or fumble the ball. Plus, he was only sacked two times on the day for a loss of 13 yards. Plus, all 9 of his passes to Kyle Rudolph got caught for a team-high 122 yards and two scores.
He keeps getting better. It seems like Mackensie Alexander is getting better with every passing week. His ability to put himself in position to break up passes and force tough passes was excellent, with half the team’s defended passes coming from him.
