Minnesota Vikings MVPs: Week 5 vs. New York Giants
By Adam Carlson
Offensive MVP – Honorable Mentions
After his performance in Week 4, it’s hard to imagine a lot of praise for the Minnesota Vikings offense being handed out. However, the team looked very different from the previous outing and found a great balance of pass and run to keep the Giants behind on the scoreboard for the entire game.
Even though these players weren’t named the MVP from Week 5, here are some honorable mentions for the award:
- Kirk Cousins, quarterback: Three hundred yards passing? Check. Touchdown passes? Check. No turnovers? Check! This is the kind of play fans have been waiting for from Cousins this season. However, even more impressive than 306 yards and two touchdowns is that he completed 22 of his 27 passes on the day. Efficiency paired with a running game is a recipe for success.
- Adam Thielen, wide receiver: Thielen went up for a talented catch that looked like it might not be catchable, but that was only one of his seven catches on the day. He had 130 yards and two touchdowns, proving his worth to the offense. He is every bit the player fans have learned he can be.
- Alexander Mattison, running back: Minnesota has a strong one-two punch at running back with Mattison making the most of his opportunities. He only ran the ball seven times on the day, but he had some tough runs, including one that went for 19 yards. He ended with a total of 52 yards.
- Bisi Johnson, wide receiver: Johnson is emerging as more than just a reliable target the team can look if Diggs and Thielen aren’t open. He is becoming a viable option for the team to trust, even in big situations. This week, he hauled in all four of his targets and gained 43 yards. He’ll be fun to watch going forward.