Game No. 6
Week 14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021
Despite Dalvin Cook’s stellar November in 2020, the Vikings could do no better than 7-9. Cook still had a great year and ended ‘20 with career-highs in yards (1,557) and rushing touchdowns (16) while also pulling down 44 receptions for 361 yards and another score. Cook was voted to his second Pro Bowl after the season.
Unfortunately, Minnesota wasn’t much better in 2021. The team began the year 3-3 and were 5-7 when the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Minneapolis on December 9 for a Week 14 tilt.
The Steelers were in the midst of a 9-7-1 season and looked to leave Minny with a second straight win. Cook had other ideas and had his best day since the Detroit game in 2020.
The Vikings were leading 10-0 in the second quarter when Cook took a handoff and rumbled 29 yards for a touchdown. That increased Minny’s lead to 17-0. Only minutes later, Cook scored again, this time from seven yards out, to give the Vikings a huge 23-0 halftime advantage.
Pittsburgh would storm back in the fourth quarter, but they came up short as the Vikings prevailed, 36-28. In addition to his two running touchdowns, Cook also had 205 rushing yards, his second-best single-game career total. Even more noteworthy, Cook’s impressive output came just 11 days after he had dislocated his shoulder.