5 biggest takeaways from the Vikings loss to the Browns in Week 4
By Adam Carlson
Minnesota’s offensive line is not okay
Firstly, let’s get something straight. Kirk Cousins is a good quarterback. He may not be elite or mobile, but when given time, he can pick apart an opposing defense skillfully and give the Vikings a great chance to win.
That said, the offensive line failed Cousins in a big way on Sunday. Of course, the Browns have a very strong pass rush featuring Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, but Minnesota has invested a lot of money and resources into an offensive line that has failed to meet pass blocking standards for several years now.
On paper, Cousins was only sacked twice for a loss of 13 yards. However, that doesn’t even come close to telling the story of what happened in Week 4. The Vikings quarterback was relentlessly chased around the field and absorbed 10 hits on the day.
Having rookie left tackle Christian Darrisaw active for the first time this season is a step in the right direction, but getting him involved on offense should be the next big step. Then, this offensive line can be truly evaluated for future weeks.
Kirktober is off to a rough start. One touchdown, his first interception of the year, and completing only 53 percent of his passes won’t get it done. This is especially true if he can’t have time to do his job properly.
*NOTE: Updated for incorrect statistic