The Vikings entered Sunday’s contest with the Packers as nearly seven-point underdogs. It was the Dalvin Cook show that led to the Vikings upset, ultimately winning the game 28-22.
Cook ran the ball 30 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns, while catching two passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. His four-touchdown performance was the first the Vikings have had since 1979.
The dominant rushing attack was too much for the Packers defense to handle. Cook showed off why he should be considered as one of the best running backs across the entire NFL.
Mike Zimmer’s defense got off to a slow start with Davante Adams being the only Packer that scored. In a 28-22 contest only two skilled position players scored touchdowns. Jeff Gladney struggled early on but bounced back towards the end of the game with some nice plays in coverage.
The hero to the defense in today’s game was Eric Kendricks, who led the team with 12 tackles and lived up to his elite PFF coverage grade from last season. Kendricks was tasked with covering Adams on a couple plays and he looked like a cornerback while doing so.
One of the biggest stories to come out of the game was the injuries within the Vikings secondary. Cameron Dantzler was placed on a stretcher after a scary neck injury, but it was reported during the game that he has full movement in his body. Kris Boyd also left later in the game with a knee injury that looked severe.
Despite all the injuries in the secondary, the Vikings defensive backs held their own in the fourth quarter. Anthony Harris had a near pass interference on a 4th down pass breakup, but the refs called it back giving the Vikings the ball.
The Packers had the chance to spark a Rodgers Hail Mary to win the game, but Vikings rookie D.J. Wonnum had the play of the game. As Rodgers wound up to sling the ball to the end zone, Wonnum stripped the ball and the Vikings recovered. Hail Marys don’t have a good success rate, but Rodgers has done it three times over the course of his career.
Wonnum was labeled by many as the next Andre Patterson project, and he has even drawn some comparisons to Danielle Hunter. If he’s able to continue to grow as a pass rusher it would benefit the Vikings immensely in 2021.
The Vikings pulled off a huge upset against their biggest divisional rival in a tough road game. This might pause the conversation on the Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields talks, but there are still nine games to be played on the season.
Still in last place in the division, the 2-5 Vikings take on the 3-4 Detroit Lions next Sunday back at U.S. Bank Stadium.
To listen to post game conversations, make sure to tune into KFAN 100.3.