Category: Minesota Vikings match
Green Bay Packers bowl over Minnesota Vikings to clinch NFC North title
December 25, 2019
The Packers (12-3) made Matt LaFleur the 10th rookie coach in NFL history to reach 12 victories, triumphing for the primary time in 4 attempts at Minnesota’s deafening US bank. Green Bay stayed in function for a first-round bye inside the playoffs. The pinnacle seed and home-field advantage till the Super Bowl remains in sight.
The Packers stormed again from three first-half of turnovers, which includes an extraordinary interception by way of Aaron Rodgers, to silence the group and seal the Vikings (10-5 into the 6th playoff seed. The green-and-gold-clad lovers in attendance squeezed a few chants in all through the adequate down time as the Packers took control inside the 2d half.
Kirk Cousins was sacked five instances, with a whopping three half of by means of Smith, and he threw an interception in the 0.33 quarter that set up the primary score through Jones. Cousins fell to 0-9 in his career in Monday night time video games.
The Vikings had best seven first downs and never netted a pressure longer than 31 yards in this regarding regression. They wasted a first-class performance by using their defense, which has produced 10 turnovers in the ultimate video games.
Minnesota’s frustration over a stalled offense that averaged nearly 30 points over the previous 10 video games most effective multiplied within the second half of. Stefon Diggs stuck a 28-backyard skip on 0.33-and-18 in the 0.33 area, however Cousins turned into intercepted later on the drive when Diggs become tangled up with Jaire Alexander and Kevin King made a leaping take hold of earlier than a 39-backyard go back.
That installation the first rating through Jones, who leads the league with 16 dashing touchdowns. The Vikings punted on 4th-and-1 from their 45 to white-flag their ensuing ownership.
Cousins value Minnesota the final touch of a comeback from a three-landing deficit at inexperienced Bay on 15 September, when his 2d interception of the sport got here on an off-balance throw into stop-zone insurance on first-and-aim overdue within the fourth sector of a 21-16 defeat. In view that that iffy first month of the season, even though, Cousins has performed as well as nearly any quarterback in the league. He helped the Vikings face up to the extended harm absence of superstar extensive receiver Adam Thielen and lapses in their bypass protection, clinching a spot within the playoffs for simply the second one time in 5 complete seasons as a starter with two groups.
Packers protecting coordinator Mike Pettine once more schemed exceedingly properly against Cousins and the Vikings, retaining his outside linebackers greater huge to prevent the rollouts and displays that Cousins excels with. 0.33-string going for walks back Mike Boone, in his first NFL begin with Dalvin cook and Alexander Mattison both out with injuries, turned into frequently bottled up.
Cousins become simply 4 for 12 for 39 yards within the first half of. The high-quality throw from both aspect throughout the unpleasant first half-hour, though, became his lower back-shoulder drop in the long run sector to Stefon Diggs to overcome solo insurance from Jaire Alexander for a 21-yard touchdown. That came 3 performs after Anthony Harris picked off Rodgers by using darting in front of Davante Adams for his sixth interception of the season.
Rodgers and the Packers have frequently raced out of the gates this season, hitting their snags later in video games, however the begin turned into exceedingly bumpy. Jones fumbled when Anthony Barr wrangled him down on a brief seize at on the primary power, and Eric Kendricks again it to the green Bay 10-backyard line. Adams misplaced a fumble and later dropped a skip ultimately zone proper earlier than halftime, forcing the Packers to settle for Mason Crosby’s 1/3 subject aim.
Rodgers threw 30 passes within the first half of and won just 158 yards off them. His streak of 277 consecutive tries without an interception changed into the longest in the league this season, relationship to the 14 October sport towards Detroit.
Green Bay defeated the Vikings to win the first NFC North title since 2016
December 24, 2019
Green Bay packer does not return to the playoffs. They will return as the Northern NFC champion. A week after they guaranteed they would end a two-year drought, they completed their first championship since 2016.
By doing so with them The 23-10 victory over the Vikings on Monday, they guaranteed that they would not have to return to the US Bank Stadium in the playoffs. Before Monday, they had never won in the building.
It didn’t look good until the fourth quarter, when Aaron Jones scored his second of his two touches to run his overall season into the NFL leading 19. Then again, when that didn’t Must be Jones or Davante Adams, it was not nice to commit a crime in a good part of Packers’ 12-3 season.
The Packers put the ball through three times in the first half. It was their second revenue game of the season. Both came on football Monday, earlier in Week 6 against the Lions.
Week 6 is when Rodgers last throws an interception before Monday. He had a string of 277 straight passes that no one until he defeated Adams on the pass into safe Vikings Anthony Harris in the second quarter. That ended the second longest series of free interceptions in Rodgers’s career. He once threw 402 passes without a choice, which is still the longest such string in NFL history.
Packers allowed 29 points off revenue to the game, the second least in the tournament, just behind the Viking score (26). The first 10 points of the Vikings turned off sales (selections of Jones and Rodgers).
Rodgers can’t go deep, especially early. He completed just one of eight passes with more than 10 yards thrown in the first half, tied for the second worst second half since 2008 (at least eight tries), according to research by Stats & Information. The person he completed had been groped by Adams.
It was Rodgers’ third match this season without a cross, though Packers won all three. Entering this season, Packers were 4-10 when Rodgers failed to throw the ball. Monday’s game marked the first time Rodgers won a game in which he threw a block and did not touch the ball.
Thanks Jones ’23 for bringing 154 yards with two touches and 13 catches by Adams in 116 yards – and thanks to Za’Darius Smith, whose monster season includes a monster game on Monday, with 3, 5 sacks as part of a game of seven awards (five losses) – Packers survived without the best day from Rodgers.
Dalvin Cook gives tremendous boost to the Viking play-off prospects
December 19, 2019
Week 10 edicates a proof ground to the Vikings, who have entered and exited the AT&T Stadium holding No. 6 seed in the NFC play-off picture after taking the 28-24 win against Dallas cowboy.
For the Vikings (7-3), it was a big victory at the critical moment of the season, and they succeeded at what had failed them earlier. Minnesota defeated a good team (Dallas, 5-4, on Sunday leading NFC East) on the road and overcame its own pitfalls, especially on defense.
Certainly, the Vikings will remain the No. 6 seed regardless of the outcome, but Sunday night’s victory not only shattered the notion of the Kirk cousin quarter-final in the biggest games , it gave Minnesota a preview of the type of competition it would have to beat if it achieved the feat.
Minnesota is locked in the current playoff picture, but there are issues that need to be addressed if you want to keep that position and move deep into January. On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings took the first step to get there and reach gets an important place compared to other NFC hopes like Carolina Panthers (5-4), Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) and Los Angeles Rams (5-4).
Superman attack galore
You can chalk this game to “The Special Kyle Rudolph” or “Dalvin Cook Day” and both will determine exactly what attack activity is in Minnesota. Rudolph’s two-yard touches in the drives returning in the first quarter allowed the Vikings to jump to a 14-0 lead and trigger an overnight attack on one night they would be without Adam Thielen (tendon injury on stilts).
ook recorded a rushing 100-yard day against one of the tournament’s best running defenders, and the statement that Minnesota made with its running game took place at its pivotal point.
On the last touch, the Vikings ran 11 times, culminating in a 2-yard touch run by Cook, followed by Rudolph’s 2-point conversion catch. The Vikings ripped five steps from 10 yards or more on Sunday, which links with Dallas the second most allowed this season.
Defensive defenses
Trae Waynes’ is absent for a nightmare outing for Mike Hughes. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, this is the biggest goal of any player this season.
Hughes gave up 10 reception times in 139 yards and one touch, and allowed a third and third number, including two-thirds and 12s on separate touchdown drives, and one-third and 14 that in the game.
Overall, Minnesota allowed Dallas to convert nine of its 15 attempts down to its third, a rate worsened by failing to pass the pace and pushed up the middle because Linval Joseph was absent due to injury.
Kirk Cousins evokes Minnesota Vikings rookie center on their day off
December 9, 2019
Even on his day without work, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins showed his crew leadership via attaining out to a young participant about his play so far this season.
There seem to be two forms of gamers inside the NFL. While one sort of character lives, breathes, and eats football all the time, the others close off their mind from the sport and are capable of sit back and relax. in step with a current article from the Pioneer Press, Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings is one of those players who’ve no off switch in terms of soccer.
Wednesday, the Vikings were given a damage from their busy workweek earlier than preparing for their Week 14 recreation in opposition to the Detroit Lions. Cousins took this opportunity to ship a textual content message to a person he has gotten quite near this season.
the person receiving that message was the first-spherical draft pick out of the Vikings in 2019, Garrett Bradbury, who immediately took over as the crew’s starting middle and has been snapping the ball to Kirk Cousins each week.
The Pioneer Press says the message instructed Bradbury that he has “finished a truly proper task for a way much we’ve put on him” to inspire and reward his play. Of course, this brightened the younger participant’s day and stimulated him.
“Which means the world,” Bradbury said. “He’s obviously the chief on this offense, and to listen something like that, that’s superb.”
Of route, that is some thing that could were stated in the locker room or on the field, however for Cousins to take his personal non-public time to allow Bradbury understand he appreciates his efforts is a splendid manner to no longer best show thanks but keep to encourage him to enhance, as he has performed when you consider that becoming a member of the league.
Cousins is aware of the impact that type words may have. when he turned into a rookie with the Redskins, instruct Shanahan took a couple of minutes to speak to him about his play and offer his encouragement. He desired to unfold that top feeling with others.
It is able to not feel like a lot, however the little matters can pass an extended manner in building a younger participant’s self assurance. optimistically, Garrett Bradbury can continue to grow as a center and help the Minnesota Vikings get to the next level.
Former Vikings cornerback claims to be fine tackler in franchise records
November 30, 2019
Minnesota Vikings defender claims to be the best tackler in crew records.
The Minnesota Vikings have visible some exceptional tackles circulate inside and out of the organization over the path in their franchise records. Ever when you consider that becoming a team in 1961, fanatics have visible many amazing defenders make extremely good plays, some of which are greater memorable than others.
Lately, the Pioneer Press spoke with former cornerback Antoine Winfield about his time with the Vikings, his region in crew records, and his son, university of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
The subject of tackling become addressed and Winfield made a bold declare approximately his place among the pleasant tacklers. right here is what he stated:
“I was the high-quality tackler duration inside the league. Nobody may want to address like me within the open field. I placed my numbers up in opposition to Ray Lewis, everyone.’’
No longer only changed into he ambitious enough to mention nobody within the league tackled better than him at some stage in his NFL profession, however he made any other claim that might be an excellent bigger one: Announcing he’s “honestly” the exceptional tackler in franchise records.
This is a tough claim to verify, there may be no doubt that Winfield changed into a fantastic tackler, however with takedowns not being an formally recorded statistic till 2001 and had been recognized in 1994, a lot of the high-quality players in crew history are hard to evaluate to the cornerback.
However, recent records doesn’t assist Winfield’s declare both, as a minimum with regards to quantity. Former linebacker Scott Studwell has racked up an unofficial 1,928 tackles at some point of his career from 1977 to 1990 as compared to 1,057 from 2004 to 2012.
Winfield had a response for that though.
“I’ve watched movie on him and visible the stats,’’ Winfield stated. “I recognize he become a splendid player however he’s in the field, he’s no longer in that open area like a corner.’’
At 5ft9 and a hundred and 80-kilos, Winfield’s smaller body didn’t keep him back. His notable tackling approach and solid coverage talents made him a 3-time Pro Bowl player with an All-pro second-team nod in 2008.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings Best Bets
November 17, 2019
Philadelphia Storylines
The Eagles (2-2) come domestic to Lincoln economic discipline humbled through their 26-23 additional time loss to the Titans. They had been up 17-3 halfway via the third before imploding on bypass defense and subsequently allowing a sport-dropping touchdown seize in extra time to Corey Davis.
It’s been a hard first area for the defending Super Bowl champs. injuries, in particular at receiver and going for walks returned, have taken some potency faraway from their offense. Blown coverages and employees changes have made them susceptible to the deep ball.
Vikings Storylines
Another group embarrassed with the aid of a few latest losses, the Vikings (1-3-1) are trying to pick out up the pieces from a 38-31 defeat to the Rams remaining Thursday night that rendered them winless of their past three games.
The stench in their 27-6 home loss to the payments four days earlier continues to be palpable. Head train Mike Zimmer has wondered the collapse of his crew’s defense.
The Vikings rank 21st and twenty second, respectively, in yards allowed and factors allowed after completing No. 1 in each categories remaining year. Kirk Cousins is off to a extremely good begin, averaging 347 passing yards according to sport and with a 103.6 passer rating, however he’s been sacked thirteen times and the Vikings’ floor game is dormant.
They rank final in speeding yards, speeding attempts and rushing touchdowns. They’re third-worst in yards according to convey.
The Vikings are banged up at the offensive line, and is the reason their stagnant walking recreation and why Cousins is underneath constant duress. They’re on a backup left shield and have been hampered via accidents at center and both offensive tackle spots.
Walking lower back Dalvin cook dinner has also battled a hamstring injury that forced him to overlook the bills recreation and confined his practice leading as much as the Rams sport, in which he totaled just 20 rushing yards on 10 consists of.
The intellectual-fitness situation surrounding 3-time Super Bowl defensive cease Everson Griffen has taken away their great pass rusher until Week 6 at the earliest.
Eagles vs. Vikings making a bet tips and choices
right here are a few matters for NFL having a bet fanatics to recollect on this matchup:
The Main Line
Rare is an Eagles domestic game once they don’t win, and don’t win via double digits. They’re already 2-0 at the Linc this year after going 7-1 at domestic remaining yr, with their handiest loss coming within the season finale and the starters resting.
With Wentz main the huddle, the Eagles received all six home video games that he began – and gained with the aid of a mean of 19.8 factors.
This yr, they’ve received at home by using a median of five factors, which isn’t much but would still be sufficient to cowl the -3 line against a suffering Vikings group hasn’t reputedly recovered from the 34-factor blowout it suffered to the Eagles in final 12 months’s the NFC Championship.
Bet the Eagles -three over Vikings with 888Sport – an online casinos sport betting website.
Over/underneath general
This recreation doesn’t have the appearance of a defensive war, no longer with both groups suffering to defend the pass and each coming in with quarterbacks in a great rhythm.
in spite of all their offensive line woes, the Vikings have scored at the least 24 factors in 3 of their four video games and are averaging 30 points per game in their road video games – 29 towards the Packers at Lambeau field and 31 in opposition to the Rams closing Thursday in LA
Cousins has normally accomplished well towards the Eagles, even when playing for mediocre or bad Redskins groups. In seven career games against the Eagles, Cousins has finished sixty four percent of his passes and registered a passer rating of 99.7.
His teams have scored as a minimum 24 points in 5 of these seven games and at least 27 in 4 of them. The Eagles have racked up plenty of yards in two games on the grounds that Wentz returned, with 379 towards the Colts observed by using 432 in opposition to the Titans.
They’ve just struggled in the red quarter, an area of strength closing 12 months. look for the Eagles to enhance on this area with advanced health. Alshon Jeffery came lower back in opposition to the Titans and went for a hundred and five yards. Ajayi averaged 4.7 yards in line with carry towards the Titans.
There’s plenty offensive firepower on the sector between both teams. Take over 44.5 factors with 888Sport.
Maximum Scoring sector
It’s hard no longer to be aware the second one-sector scoring trend for both groups. The Eagles have scored 23 points inside the 2nd zone this 12 months, instead of 7 within the first quarter. The Eagles have commenced sluggish and sooner or later observed their rhythm after the first 15 mins.
In the meantime, Vikings combatants have profited in the 2d region. The Vikings have allowed 44 second-region points, by means of far the most of any area. They’ve allowed 31 within the first quarter, 23 inside the 1/3 and simply 12 within the fourth.
Dalvin Cook showes his talent in the Vikings win
November 12, 2019
Sunday night’s game between Cowboys and the Vikings was considered as a matchup between two of the NFL’s top running backs.
3 Best Vikings players from the first half of the 2019 season
November 3, 2019
Minnesota went directly to thrash the Falcons (similar to maximum teams to date this year) and the eyebrows started out to elevate a chunk. but then the Vikings dropped in their next three matchups, consisting of two towards NFC North warring parties, and the doubts about their risk for success in 2019 began to take center degree.
in preference to being attentive to the outdoor noise and giving up on the season after just four games, however, Minnesota’s locker room grew stronger and that they have now put together four directly victories.
With the first half of of their schedule now complete, the Vikings are sitting with a 6-2 record and that they have as suitable a shot as any to contend inside the NFC this year.
Minnesota’s achievement in 2019 has been due to the efforts of some of gamers on their roster. some have had an excellent game or two this season, whilst others have been playing at a excessive stage every and every week the Vikings have stepped onto the field.
Danielle Hunter – DE
After he had just 4.5 sacks at some point of his college profession at LSU, the Vikings were probably simply hoping that Danielle Hunter could grow to be a strong pass rusher when they decided on him inside the third spherical of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Kirk Cousins – QB
After his first 12 months in a Vikings uniform didn’t flip out the way most had hoped it would, Kirk Cousins headed into the 2019 season with a ton of stress on his shoulders.
In the beginning, it seemed like Cousins turned into going to permit the pressure weigh down him and lead him to having another disappointing campaign. but, the Minnesota quarterback is currently gambling some of the quality football of his career throughout the team’s ultimate four games.
Seeing that Week five, Cousins has been arguably the nice passer within the NFL. Over the last 4 weeks, he’s completed 78.5% of his passes for 1,261 yards (315.3 common), 10 touchdowns, and just one interception.
The Vikings took a hazard on Cousins ultimate yr once they signed him to a three-12 months, completely-assured $84 million agreement. What he’s been able to do in the course of their closing four video games is precisely why they gave him this kind of big bite of change.
Will he be able to hold it up throughout the second one half of of the season?
Dalvin Cook – RB
No one has ever wondered the skills level of Dalvin prepare dinner. Every body is aware of how dynamic of a strolling lower back he’s every time he steps on the sector.
The trouble in the course of the early a part of his NFL profession has been his fitness. but after a couple of harm-riddled campaigns during his first years with the Vikings, cook is healthier than ever and the rest of the NFL is finding out how truely special he’s with the ball in his fingers.
Via 8 games in 2019, the Minnesota running lower back leads the league in dashing yards and rushing touchdowns. similarly to his astounding numbers on the floor this season, he’s additionally hauled in 29 passes for 293 yards.
With what he’s been able to do thus far this yr, cook dinner is currently on tempo to tie Adrian Peterson for the second-maximum touchdowns in a single season through a Vikings running again.
Detroit Lions like short turnaround to stand Minnesota Vikings after tough loss
October 20, 2019
The Detroit Lions are grateful they have a short week to prepare to play Minnesota in a probably pivotal NFC North matchup.
A short turnaround gave the Lions less time to lament important calls that didn’t move their manner on Monday night time in a loss at green Bay.
“It’s type of a blessing in conceal due to the fact we do not have time to consider some thing however Minnesota,” Lions middle Frank Ragnow stated. “And, the Vikings are certainly excellent — particularly on protection.”
The Vikings (4-2) have received 2 in a row, leaning on one of the NFL’s nice defenses and an offense this is beginning to carry out as much as its potential.
Minnesota has averaged 33 factors the beyond weeks with a grinding going for walks recreation led with the aid of Dalvin cook dinner that helps Kirk Cousins make big plays through the air. After a sluggish begin, Cousins had 6 landing passes and one interception in wins over Philadelphia and the New York Giants.
Detroit (2-2-1) has dropped two instantly after an unbeaten, three-game begin because it didn’t hold double-digit leads towards the Packers and Kansas metropolis Chiefs.
If the Lions don’t win Sunday at home, even though, their chances to contend within the aggressive division will take a success.
Minnesota, in the meantime, desires to keep away from starting zero-3 within the NFC North after playing its first 3 division games as visitors.
“We get them all at home at the stop, so all of it evens out,” Vikings educate Mike Zimmer said.
Right here are a few matters to observe whilst the Lions face the Vikings:
STACKS OF SACKS
Vikings protective end Danielle Hunter leads the league with 8 tackles for losses. He set an NFL file with a sack against the Eagles that gave him 46 for his career, the most in history by using a participant younger than 25. Hunter has extra games earlier than his birthday, and the Lions have supplied him masses of pass-speeding possibilities in the beyond. Hunter has seven sacks in six video games towards them, plus three fumble recoveries and one he back for a 32-yard touchdown.
STALLING OUT
The Lions misplaced to the Packers at the least in part because they scored only one landing and needed to accept Matt Prater’s 5 subject dreams. That observed a fashion.
In intention-to-cross conditions, Detroit ranks thirtieth within the NFL with 4 touchdowns in 9 possibilities.
“That is no longer suitable sufficient,” quarterback Matthew Stafford recounted.
Stefon Diggs Is Mad As Hell. Where Do the Vikings Go From Here?
October 5, 2019
On Thursday, 4 days after the maximum scrutinized loss of Kirk Cousins’s Vikings profession, 3 days after Stefon Diggs tweeted the mouthless emoji, and one day after the receiver neglected practice no matter now not being indexed with an harm, reporters requested Diggs whether or not he’d requested a trade from Minnesota. Diggs neither showed nor denied it however recounted he was pissed off. He also stated he was not aware about whether or not his agent had asked for a exchange on his behalf, and NBC sports’ Tom Curran reported that the Vikings have been not inquisitive about trading Diggs.
The Vikings are 2-2 and in final vicinity inside the NFC North after four weeks, and people losses have been in particular irritating for absolutely everyone depending on Minnesota’s quarterback. The Vikings misplaced to inexperienced Bay 21-16 in Week 2 after Cousins threw an interception overdue inside the fourth region on an unwell-suggested skip on first-and-intention on the 8-backyard line. Last week, the Vikings lost to Chicago 16-6 due to the fact the Bears shut down going for walks returned Dalvin Cook and Minnesota did not correctly pivot to passing. Halfway through the 0.33 area of Sunday’s recreation, Diggs and receiver Adam Thielen had fewer blended goals than fullback C.J. Ham. Diggs become reportedly seen yelling on the sideline inside the course of Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and threw his gloves on the ground after one failed pressure. Thielen was also visibly angry on the sector, mainly on a 4th-and-5 slant that Cousins threw at the back of him. Cousins additionally ignored Thielen on a deep bypass inside the first area.
Thielen turned into the ultimate Viking to depart the sideline after the sport ended, in line with The Athletic. After the sport, he stated it changed into “so irritating it’s fantastic.”
Cousins apologized to Thielen on his podcast, even though Vikings head educate Mike Zimmer was “now not a fan” of the public apology. however there are still plenty of reasons for Diggs and Thielen to be irritated. Minnesota is 31st in receiving yards, in advance of the Jets however in the back of the 49ers, who were on a bye in Week four, and the pathetic Miami Dolphins. placing up the ones minuscule numbers may not be a part of Minnesota’s precise plan, however it’s quite near. Zimmer overhauled Minnesota’s offense this year to attention at the running sport, bringing in quarter-blocking off wizard Gary Kubiak as an adviser and installing a game plan that calls for passing as every so often as viable. The Vikings are trying the fewest passes consistent with sport in the league (24.75), are the only squad that has thrown fewer than one hundred passes in 4 video games, and are one in all groups with more run tries than pass tries. At the passes Cousins is throwing, he isn’t supplying much fee. He’s 30 second of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in ESPN’s total quarterback score, basically tied with the Jets’ Luke Falk.
As Diggs, Cousins, and Zimmer have all said, prevailing will therapy what ails them. A win ought to come as quickly as this week while the Vikings journey to New Jersey to face the 2-2 Giants.
New York is led through former Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, whose recreation plans landed Diggs a $72 million extension with $40 million guaranteed in the summer of 2018 and released Thielen from undrafted loose-agent no person to a delusion football big name. In 2017, Shurmur’s strategy for Keenum to get the ball to Thielen and Diggs changed into to be aggressive: Sling it to the 2 receivers with large catch radiuses and allow them to cross get the ball