The Minnesota Vikings are still a team of mystery, but they found another way to win a football game by sacking Kyler Murray on the final two plays of the game to seal a 34-26 win over the Arizona Cardinals, extending their winning streak to five games this season and 11 games over the Cardinals in Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins started out the game with an excellent drive down the field, marching 75 yards in 10 plays and capped it off himself with a 17-yard touchdown run.
Throughout the game, Cousins struggled with accuracy. He missed some throws early on but rallied to make plays down the stretch, including a beautiful touchdown pass to K.J. Osborn that put the Vikings up eight. He finished 24-36 for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Kirk. K.J. TD.
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/aF2S4i8Dwr
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 30, 2022
The rushing attack for the Vikings was dynamite in the first half, tallying 134 yards at 8.4 yards per carry. Dalvin Cook topped 100 yards for the first time this season by tallying 111 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.
The big issue for the Vikings was the offensive line. Cousins was pressured consistently by the Cardinals’ pass rush and blitz-heavy scheme run by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
They took advantage of rookie Ed Ingram in a major way. J.J. Watt bullied him all game long and they sent numerous blitzes right at him that Ingram couldn’t handle. They sacked Cousins three times with two coming from Watt and the other from Isaiah Simmons which was a strip sack.
Ed Ingram needs to be pulled. He's getting pulverized by J.J. Watt
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) October 30, 2022
The Vikings on defense were their normal bend, don’t break selves and they feasted on the Cardinals banged up offensive line. They prioritized Danielle Hunter all game long by making sure whoever was blocking him had help, whether it be a true double team or a chip from a running back or tight end.
That left Za’Darius Smith on the other side to thrive and he did with two sacks, including a tremendous celebration after his first sack to honor the newest member of the Vikings Ring of Honor Jared Allen.
The Vikings force three turnovers on the day, including intercepting Murray twice on the day one by Harrison Smith and the other by Camryn Bynum. They also recovered a muffed punt by Greg Dortch. In a major storyline of the game, the Vikings turned those turnovers into 14 points.
Murray was still his normal talented self as he completed 31-44 for 326 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Unfortunately, injuries bit the Vikings’ defense as Dalvin Tomlinson left the game with a calf injury and did not return.
The kicking game was awful again for the Vikings. Greg Joseph missed another 56-yard field goal by hitting a defender in the helmet and missed his third extra point of the season in just 19 attempts.
Up next for the Vikings are the Washington Commanders who beat the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. It will be important for the Vikings to not look ahead of the Commanders, as they have the Buffalo Bills in two weeks. The game will also be Kirk Cousins’ first trip back to Washington since he signed with the Vikings.
