Lions-Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are on a winning streak. A two-game winning streak. They took care of the Detroit Lions yesterday at US Bank Stadium, 34-20. It's officially a two-score win. It felt like more. 

The Minnesota Vikings are on a two-game winning streak. 

Dalvin Cook carried the Vikings. Again. 

22 carries, 206 yards, 2 TDs (5,70)

2 catches, 46 yards

Over the past two weeks, Cook has gained 478 yards from scrimmage and scored six touchdowns. There's really no argument to the contrary, he makes the Vikings go. 

Whatever "it" is, Cook is feeling "it." He's taken over the league rushing lead with 858 yards. That total through eight games (6.5 of which he's actually played) prompted Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Ben Goessling to do some research. He posted this list of the best rushing performances in Vikings history through the first eight games of a season. 

Adrian Peterson, 2007: 1,058

Dalvin Cook, 2020: 858

Peterson, 2010: 857

Cook, 2019: 823

Peterson, 2008: 823

Peterson, 2011: 795

Robert Smith, 2000: 786

Peterson, 2009: 785

Peterson, 2012: 775

It's really no surprise that there's a lot of Adrian Peterson on the list. It's interesting that the best rushing start in Vikings history was his rookie season. He was a backup to Chester Taylor for the first handful of games. His MVP 2,097 yard season of 2012 is at the bottom of these best rushing starts. Imagine what his yardage total would've been that season if the team wasn't so careful with him early on after his 2011 knee injury, surgery, and rehab. 

Speaking of Peterson, it's always tough to see him in another team's uniform. It was tough watching him run for the Lions. It was also tough seeing Everson Griffen in that uniform. Until this season, one, or both, of those two had been the heart of each Vikings team since 2007. 

Back to the game. 

With Cook taking apart defenses, Kirk Cousins just has to direct the team and not make mistakes. It's an proficient, efficient, sometimes explosive offense that's really starting to figure out some things. 

As a team, the Vikings rushed for 275 yards. Gaining yards on the ground like that often turns the passing attack into a nice game of catch. 

Kirk Cousins was good against the Lions. 

13 completions

20 attempts

220 yards 

11 yards/attempt

3 TDs

141.7

No interceptions. Two wins. Two games without an interception. There's a connection there. 

487 yards of total offense. Five touchdowns. No turnovers. 

The Vikings defense gave up some yards. 421 of them. The Lions moved the ball, controlled the clock but had difficulty scoring. The Vikings intercepted three passes. Two of the interceptions were in the red zone. The best thing the defense did was make plays when they needed them most. There's a lot of room for improvement but this young, oft-injury depleted Vikings defense is starting to do some good things. The biggest improvement might be found when some cornerbacks get healthy. The Vikings' hampered cornerback group lucked out when an injury kept Lions receiver Kenny Golladay from playing in the game. He's the Lions' best and most dangerous offensive player. The corners with the size to best compete with Golladay, Cameron Dantzler and Holton Hill, were injured and inactive for the game. 

Just about the only thing that the Vikings did wrong was allow two Britton Colquitt punts to be blocked. 

The Vikings have an opportunity to get out of the hole that they put themselves in by losing five of their first six games. Their next four games present that opportunity.

@ Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Carolina Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars

If the offense continues it's proficient, efficient, sometimes explosive play and the defense continues to make strides (as well as getting and staying healthy) the Vikings can be 7-5 at the three-quarter mark of the season. That didn't seem possible when they were sitting at 1-5. It feels possible now. 

The Vikings are on a winning streak.