Minnesota Vikings Week 9 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday by the margin of an overtime field goal. It was their fifth loss of the season by a single score. It can be tough to pick “players of the game” when the Vikings are on the wrong side of the final score. Here’s a shot at it anyway.

Offensive Player of the Week

It’s tempting to not pick an offensive player of Week 9. The Vikings offense has shown a nauseating tendency to disappear for stretches of games. The offense did nothing in the second half against the Ravens until the final two minutes. That did no favors to an undermanned Vikings defense that was clearly gassed at the end. The Ravens offense ran 98 plays. They ran 56 plays in the second half and overtime. In comparison, the Vikings offense ran 23 plays in the second half and overtime. That’s a ridiculous disparity. The Vikings offense has too many playmakers to have so many pathetic, empty possessions. It simply can’t happen and it happens too often. 

The Vikings offense opened with two touchdowns against the Ravens. Justin Jefferson scored the first touchdown from 50 yards. The Vikings drove 94 yards for the second touchdown. 66 of those yards came on a single Dalvin Cook run. The Vikings two biggest playmakers made big plays. Those were the only offensive touchdowns until the final minute of the game. 

For his 110 rushing yards and 12 receiving yards, the Vikings Offensive Player of Week 9 goes to Dalvin Cook.

Defensive Player of the Week

Despite Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense taking over the game in the second half, the Vikings defense played well. The Ravens offense started roll as the Vikings offense started to do nothing. The Vikings defense was simply on the field too long and too often. The defensive line, missing Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce, consistently harassed Jackson. Jackson’s final stats were nice but he didn’t come by them easily. His most sparking stat was his rushing total. He gained 120 yards on 21 carries. With a long of 12 yards, his runs were more of the persistent rather than gashing variety. The Vikings defense really seemed to have a strong game plan and execution for most of the game. An effective, team pass rush and sound coverage kept the Jackson and the Ravens offense in check for much of the game. They often needed fourth down conversions to keep drives alive. Long, grinding dives started taking it’s toll on the Vikings defense. It didn’t help that their offense rarely kept the ball. 

A couple defensive players made plays that could’ve/should’ve flipped this game from a loss to a win. 

Anthony Barr’s incredible tip and interception in overtime should’ve been the play that led to a win. Instead, the offense did nothing. He also had a fumble recovery on the game’s first possession taken away by a horribly botched officiating call. 

For his first career interception, the Vikings Defensive Player of Week 9 goes to rookie safety Camryn Bynum. He was pressed into a starting role when an unvaccinated Harrison Smith tested positive for COVID. Bynum’s second quarter interception gave the offense the ball at the Ravens 16-yard line. The offense did nothing and settled for a field goal. The offense had to make the most of Bynum’s interception. That turnover had to be converted into a touchdown. If an offense gets the ball at the 16-yard line, that offense has to score a touchdown. 

Special Teams Player of the Week

This one’s easy. For the first time in years the Vikings had a kick return for a touchdown. 

Kene Nwangwu

The rookie running back took the second half kick off 98 yards for the score and a 24-10 lead. 

Later, he converted a first down on a fake punt.