Minnesota Vikings Week 7 Superlatives

In their Monday night defeat of the powerful San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings finally played some good football. It may have taken seven games but it was great to finally see. Perhaps, it’s the start of a beautiful run at the playoffs. Here are some of the players that made it happen. 

Offensive Players of the Game

Kirk Cousins, QB

Kirk Cousins was brilliant. 

35 completions

45 attempts 

378 yards

2 touchdowns

The stats hardly tell the story. There was a stretch in the second half in which T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison were out of the game dealing with ailments. Already without all-everything receiver Justin Jefferson, Cousins just kept dealing. He connected with Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, and Ty Chandler for big plays. On Monday night, it didn’t really matter who was on the field to catch passes. Cousins was on fire against the 49ers. 

Jordan Addison, WR

Breakout game? In 1998, I felt that Randy Moss had already established himself before he ripped up the Packers on Monday night. This year, I felt that Addison had already established himself before his big game against the 49ers on Monday night. For the rest of the football world, it apparently takes the bright lights of a prime time game for a young football player to truly break out. 

Against the 49ers:

7 catches

123 yards

2 touchdowns (20,60)

Addison also threw a 27-yard pass to Ty Chandler that was wiped out by penalty. That play might not have “officially” happened but we saw that it could happen. 

Addison was brilliant against the 49ers. Without all-everything receiver Justin Jefferson, the Vikings needed, and will need, this sort of game from their rookie receiver. He entered the league as a refined route-runner with excellent hands. At 5’11” and 175 lbs, some critics questioned whether Addison’s slight build would hold up against NFL defenders. On Monday night, he had a couple of wrestling matches for the football with 49ers corner Charvarius Ward. He lost one for an interception and brilliantly won the other for a 60-yard touchdown. Advantage Addison. The aggressive 49ers defensive backs tried to rough up the rookie. It didn’t work. In fact, they had no answer for him. 

Breakout game? I suppose it was. 

T.J. Hockenson, TE

T.J. Hockenson had recently been criticized for drops of some tough catches. The “highest paid tight end in the game” has to make those catches! He had no drops against the 49ers. 

11 catches

86 yards

Without Jefferson, Hockenson rises to Cousins’ top receiving target. He’s a chain-mover and the Vikings desperately need him to step up. He did against the 49ers.

The Offensive Line

The 49ers have an outstanding defensive front. Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and now Randy Gregory. It’s a tough, deep group. The Vikings offensive line handled that group. Cousins wasn’t sacked. He was hardly harassed. It’s been years since I’ve seen such a performance from a Vikings offensive line. 

Defensive Player of the Game 

Cam Bynum, S

Cam Bynum is developing into a big time football player. He’s always around the football. Against the 49ers, he was involved in all three takeaways. He helped force a Christian McCaffrey fumble to end an early scoring opportunity. He ended desperation game-winning opportunities by intercepting Brock Purdy. Twice! Those were his big, game-changing plays. He made his presence felt the entire game. His nine tackles kept him among the league leaders.