It was all smiles for Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings in his 1st sport as head coach. The Vikings offense bought off to a roaring begin and rode that momentum to victory about the Eco-friendly Bay Packers, 23-7. Substantially of the production in that initial fifty percent was a result of the Kirk Cousins/Justin Jefferson relationship. Jefferson caught 6 passes for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The 158 acquiring yards in the very first half for Jefferson established a new Vikings franchise record.
The manufacturing got begun ideal absent on the opening travel as Cousins related with Jefferson for a pair of 20-in addition-garden gains. He then strike Jefferson for a 5-lawn touchdown to set the Vikings on the board five-and-a-50 % minutes into the activity.
As superior as the offense was, the protection was just about as spectacular against Green Bay’s offense and the two-time reigning MVP, Aaron Rodgers. The Packers ended up held scoreless in the initial 50 % as Minnesota jumped out to a 17- direct heading into halftime. Total, it was a rough outing for Rodgers as he was held to just 195 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception on the working day. The interception was caught by Harrison Smith, the 30th of his NFL career.
Aspect of the struggles for Rodgers experienced to do with the Vikings defensive entrance, who furnished regular force on the Packers QB. Minnesota recorded four sacks on Sunday, which includes a single by Za’Darius Smith, who had been added determined going into the activity from his former workforce.
In the 2nd fifty percent, the Vikings went a significantly much more conservative technique as they tried out to safeguard their lead. Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison acquired all the carries in the activity, and total, they have been very helpful. The backfield duo blended for 28 carries and 126 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per have.
Due to the fact of this transform in strategy, Jefferson fell just a tad limited of Sammy White’s franchise file for one game obtaining yards. White recorded 210 yards in 1976 Jefferson finished the day with 184 yards. However, Sunday’s functionality marks a profession high for Jefferson.
Soon after a Greg Joseph field target designed the score 20-, the Packers finally uncovered the conclude zone in the next fifty percent on the enormous legs of AJ Dillion. Dillon punched in a 2-yard rating, but it was a subject of as well very little much too late. Joseph nailed yet another field intention, and the Vikings protection prevented any more momentum from Environmentally friendly Bay’s offense, landing us at the closing rating of 23-7.
Soon after starting their time 1- for the 1st time because 2019, the Vikings now head on the street to just take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in 7 days 2. In the meantime, the Packers head household to host a feisty Bears crew that just upset the San Francisco 49ers.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The Faculty of Idaho. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Resourceful Producing as very well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not creating about the NFL, Josh‘s hobbies include teaching for a marathon, participating in video online games, and rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For a lot more of his will take, NFL and in any other case, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken
