Kirk Cousins Weekly Review: Week 1 vs. the Green Bay Packers

Low No. 3

The offense’s playing time was minimal

You have probably heard the statistic by now, but the Vikings’ 18 minutes and 44 seconds of time of possession in Week 1 was the lowest mark the team had accrued in over 40 years. Gross. No football team wins games when faced with such a puny time-of-possession mark.

The defense is chiefly to blame for this unfortunate scourge. Minnesota’s usually-stout defensive group is the city-on-a-hill segment of the franchise. Roles were reversed last weekend.

Of course, the Vikings offense owns some culpability because of the odious interception and the unforgivable play-call that caused a safety. But generally, Mike Zimmer’s defense can cancel those shortcomings from the longterm prognosis of the game.

On this September day, the offense’s faults led to more fatigue on the field for the defense, and Aaron Rodgers exploited the forlorn state of affairs. It’s what he does.

When the offense was on the field in the second half, its output was profitable. Regardless, the time-of-possession variance loomed heavily on the outcome of the game.