How the Vikings Players to Watch vs. Packers Fared
There was no miracle.
The playoffs are officially out of sight, and there will be no Super Bowl this year for the Minnesota Vikings. Realistically, that’s looked unlikely for most of the season, but it’s now official. And we now all look to the future, starting with what the Wilfs decide to do at the general manager and head coach positions. That’s for another time though. It’s time to recap my Vikings players to watch.
Dalvin Cook
The Vikings needed a monster game from Dalvin Cook to have any chance in this game. We didn’t get one.
We got nine rushes for 13 yards, which sounds remarkable given the circumstances. The only other time this season he had single-digit rushing attempts was Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. He was struggling with an ankle injury that caused him to miss the game before and the game after. With a backup quarterback and freezing conditions, the game looked set up for Cook. The Vikings couldn’t get anything going in the run game and basically abandoned it.
Cook did catch three passes, for a cumulative zero yards. That sums up the Vikings offense in this one. Until the 4th quarter, nothing was happening. The Vikings lost to Cooper Rush earlier in the season, so winning with a backup isn’t impossible. The Vikings didn’t even compete.
Klint Kubiak showed no ability to scheme plays to help his offense out and should be overseeing his last game as offensive coordinator this week. He hasn’t looked ready for the job.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Per usual, the opposition ran at will. It was a big ask of Dalvin Tomlinson to shore up the middle without his buddy Michael Pierce. Whether it was AJ Dillon up the middle or Aaron Jones out wide, it was too easy for the Packers to run. Add in zero pass rush and corners getting roasted consistently, and this defense is in the doldrums once again.
Missing players isn’t helping, but that can’t keep being used as an excuse. The depth has to be better. There are too many players on this defense that are good at one thing but terrible at the other half of their job. I do think Tomlinson along with Pierce can be the defensive tackles moving forward, especially with so much else to fix. He has been steady if unspectacular his first season in Minnesota — a good solid pro, who does all aspects of his job well. The Vikings need more players like that.
Garrett Bradbury
It was a tough night in the trenches for Garrett Bradbury. Kenny Clark was a problem all night. The Vikings tried to double team him and still struggled, which is never a good sign. There were no holes in the run game for Dalvin Cook to exploit but never mind all that. We saw the play of the year last night from Bradbury, which makes me especially happy to have singled him out as one of my Vikings players to watch.
There is no better sight than a big guy rumbling with the ball. It’s not very often you see it from an offensive lineman, even rarer from a center. Everything about that play from Bradbury was excellent. The awareness to see the ball come out of Conklin’s hand, but then to have the ability to scoop the ball up before it hits the ground. Incredible. Then, the awareness, athleticism, and determination to get down the field before the Packers defenders knew what was happening.
Plus, he broke some tackles and pushed defenders back to gain 21 yards. It was beautiful.