The Minnesota Vikings pissed away opportunities to win their Week 16 game. Their 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles was the eighth one-score loss of the season. Games like this have become the 2021 norm. Here are some players that did well in another disappointing loss.
Offensive Player of the Week
A recent issue for the Vikings offense has been a possible disconnect between Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. On a few occasions Cousins seemed to be on one page and Jefferson on another. It’s happened a few times in recent weeks. It happened a couple times against the Rams. This apparent communication issue shouldn’t happen this late in the season. It definitely shouldn’t happen between a quarterback and receiver approaching 200 connections in two seasons. Despite some missed connections and Jalen Ramsey chasing him, Justin Jefferson was again a Vikings standout.
8 catches
116 yards
Jefferson’s 116 yards bumped his career total to 2,851 yards. He passed Odell Beckham Jr.’s 2,755 yards for most yards in a player’s first two seasons. Jefferson still has two games to add to his unmatched start to his career.
Defensive Player of the Week
This one is easy.
Anthony Barr
Barr twice intercepted Matthew Stafford. He nearly returned each for a touchdown. The first set his offense up at the Rams 11-yard line. The second set his offense up at the 2-yard line. Those two plays led to 10 points. If those two turnovers had produced 14 points, the Vikings might’ve taken this game.
Special Teams Player of the Week
The turning point of this game was probably a third quarter Rams punt return for a touchdown. So, it wasn’t a banner day for the Vikings special teams.
Greg Joseph made all his kicks.
2 extra points
3 field goals
Two of the field goals were snapped from inside the Rams 10-yard line. If those scoring opportunities had produced touchdowns rather than field goals and Joseph kicked extra points rather than field goals, the Vikings win this game.
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