The Vikings were defeated yesterday evening against the division rival Chicago Bears in a lopsided game to say the least. The Bears, who have the number 1 defense in the NFL, and a defense that has been compared to the highly touted 2000 Ravens defense, controlled the game in every aspect. Yes the score was 16-6, but that did not do it justice. The game was not close at all.
Furthermore, majority of the 233 yards Cousins threw in the air, were in garbage time when the game was primarily decided.
So not only are they going to make the Vikings look bad offensively, they’re going to make a lot of teams look like a Division 2 NCAA football team.
The Vikings only generated 59 yards total in the first half. Receivers such as Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilen were visibly angry on the sidelines after the lackluster performance from their QB Kirk Cousins.
Theilen who spoke with the media after the game stated his frustrations saying,
“At some point, you’re not going to be able to run the ball for 180 yards, even with the best running back in the NFL”
“I think we’re just as frustrated as every fan in the state of Minnesota”
“We are more frustrated. We put everything we have into the offseason. We grind every single day, and then to put a performance like that — it’s so frustrating, it’s unbelievable.”
Theilen further continues stating,
“you have to be able to throw the ball, you have to be able to make the plays”
Dalvin Cook was held to only 35 yards rushing, on 14 carries. Kirk had to avoid pressure all day long due to a offensive line who could not keep Mack, Trevathan and company in check, so yes Cousins did indeed have to check down to his 2nd and 3rd options, and rush throws.
Head coach Mike Zimmer also had choice words for his highly touted receivers saying,
“They always get frustrated. I mean everybody’s frustrated right now. When you lose and you don’t play well enough to win, everybody’s frustrated. Wasn’t just those two guys”
The fact is what can the Vikings do about Kirk Cousins? Well Kirk just last season signed a fully guaranteed 3 years 84 million dollar contract, so regardless of what you do with Kirk, you wouldn’t want to release him because you would basically have dead money (Steelers/AB situation). So in a way the Vikings are in reality, stuck with him.
As I pointed out before, the Bears defense is legit, and that’s being nice. By far the best in the league.
The difference in the game?
The offense went for 21 minutes straight without a single first down according to NFL.com
The Vikings rank 31st in the NFL in passing yards per game with only averaging 169 yards. So Yes, I think the frustration from other receivers is warranted.
Flip the page to see Adam Theilan address the offensive struggles thus far this season.