5 most disappointing Vikings in the Week 1 loss to the Bengals

Rashod Hill – LT

Rashod Hill was always a worry going into this game but no one could have foreseen just how bad he would be. Hill was a major liability in pass protection and also struggled to move bodies in the running game. He was called for numerous penalties, whether they were holding, false starts, or whatever. Whenever there was some yellow laundry on the field, chances were pretty high that the number called for the infraction was going to be 69.

Hill did draw a tough matchup against the Bengals’ best pass rusher in Trey Hendrickson and he was clearly no match for him. Hill was beaten badly and often and Cousins constantly was feeling the pressure coming from the blindside.

Dalvin Cook also struggled to find running room and that was largely in part to Hill’s incompetent blocking ability. He is definitely a backup for a reason and the Bengals did a good job exposing his weaknesses.

The Vikings better pray that Christian Darrisaw has a miraculous recovery because if they have to roll Rashod Hill out against Chandler Jones next week, Jones could see his sack total reach well beyond double digits on the year.