The Good, Bad, And Ugly Of The Minnesota Vikings’ Loss To The Green Bay Packers
The Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was a heartbreaker for the vikings and their fans.
After leading for much of the game, the Vikings were unable to hold off Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the fourth quarter, eventually falling 23-16.
As is often the case, there were both positive and negative takeaways from the game, so let’s take a closer look at the good, bad,
and ugly from the Vikings’ loss to the Packers.
The Good: Dalvin Cook Finally Got Going
The Minnesota Vikings got off to a rough start against the Green Bay Packers, but one bright spot was running back Dalvin Cook.
After struggling in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Cook had a much better performance against the Packers.
He rushed for a total of 110 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.
It was a much needed improvement for Cook and the Vikings’ offense as a whole.
Cook looked comfortable and found success running the ball both inside and outside.
He was able to pick up good chunks of yardage and gained extra yardage after contact.
Cook also looked good in the passing game, catching four passes for 33 yards.
This performance gives Cook and the Vikings something to build on going forward.
As long as Cook can continue to be a consistent part of the offense, the Vikings have a chance at success.
The Bad: Kirk Cousins Threw
Another Interception
It was a rough game for the Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
He had several chances to lead his team to a victory but instead turned the ball over three times, including an interception late in the fourth quarter.
The interception was a costly one that ultimately sealed the loss for the Vikings.
Cousins made a poor decision by trying to fit the ball into double coverage and paid the price when Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander made a nice play on the ball to get the interception.
Overall, Cousins finished the day 22 of 38 for 230 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
It was a disappointing performance from Cousins, especially considering how well he played the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.
If he wants to keep his starting job, he will need to cut down on his mistakes and make better decisions with the football.
The Ugly: Mike Zimmer’s Play Calling
The Minnesota Vikings had a tough loss against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but one of the biggest issues was their head coach Mike Zimmer’s play-calling.
Zimmer’s decision making was questionable throughout the game, and it ultimately cost the Vikings a win.
Early in the game, Zimmer chose to run the ball several times when the team was in a position to score.
This type of conservative play-calling failed to take advantage of the opportunity to strike first and gain momentum.
When the Vikings finally got into scoring position late in the second quarter, Zimmer again opted to be conservative and tried to run the ball three times rather than risk a pass.
This strategy cost them a field goal, which could have been the difference in the game.
In the second half, Zimmer continued to make questionable calls that put his team at a disadvantage.
With the Vikings trailing by two points in the fourth quarter, he chose to go for a long field goal instead of attempting a fourth down conversion.
The kick missed and the Packers scored another touchdown soon after, leaving the Vikings with little hope of a comeback.
Overall, Mike Zimmer’s play-calling was one of the main factors in the Minnesota Vikings’ loss against the Green Bay Packers.
His decisions often lacked aggression and failed to capitalize on opportunities to take the lead or extend drives.
If Zimmer wants to lead his team to victory in future games, he will need to make smarter play-calling decisions. Read more