Game No. 5
Week 9 vs. Detroit Lions in 2020
After his four-touchdown performance against the Packers, Dalvin Cook was on a role, and he carried his success into the following week.
Minny’s record was now 2-5, and the Vikings players and coaches were hoping for a run toward the postseason. The Lions were in the midst of their own poor season, and Minnesota smelled blood in the water.
To that end, the coaching staff decided to unleash Cook again, and he responded with arguably the best game of his career. He began the contest with a five-yard touchdown to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead.
Then, in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings leading 28-13, Cook found a lane. He burst through the left side of the line and didn’t stop until he hit pay dirt 70 yards later. That put the game out of reach, and Minny would win its second straight game, 34-20 (the Vikings missed an extra point).
Cook’s day included a career-high 206 rushing yards on just 22 carries and two rushing scores. His rushing total put Cook in rare company as he became only the third Viking (after Peterson and Chuck Foreman) to tally 200+ rushing yards in a single game.
For the second week in a row, Cook was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He would later be named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for his November performances.