Inside The Vikings

Three Takeaways From the Vikings' 19-9 Victory Over the Redskins

It wasn't pretty, but the Vikings have won four in a row.

Will Ragatz

Three Takeaways From the Vikings' 19-9 Victory Over the Redskins
Three Takeaways From the Vikings' 19-9 Victory Over the Redskins /

Thursday Night Football has a reputation for not producing the most aesthetically-pleasing football games. Whether that's due to the short week of preparation (probably), the matchups (also probably), it seems like the first game of the week is frequently a sloppy mess.

That held true on this specific Thursday evening, as the Vikings stumbled and kicked their way to a 19-9 victory over the Redskins at U.S. Bank Stadium.

It was a kicking-heavy game, with seven field goals and just one touchdown scored between the two teams. Dan Bailey drilled all four of his attempts – two chip shots, a 40-yarder and a 50-yarder – and that was all the Vikings needed. Kirk Cousins was held without a touchdown pass after throwing ten over the past three games, but put together an efficient evening (23/26, 285 yards, no picks).

The Redskins hung around for a while, especially in the first half. Case Keenum put together a solid performance, but missed the second half while being evaluated for a concussion. Rookie Dwayne Haskins came in and struggled, throwing a pick to Anthony Harris when Washington had good field position with the chance to tie the game. The Vikings' front seven sacked Redskins QBs four times, including an early strip-sack by Danielle Hunter.

Here are three takeaways from the victory that brings the Vikings' record to 6-2.

1. Diggs and Cook carry Thielen-less offense

With Adam Thielen missing the first game of his six-year career, the Vikings were down one third of their arguably unmatched skill-position trio.

It didn't matter much, for two reasons. One is that Stefon Diggs and Dalvin Cook are extremely talented and capable of handling big workloads. The second is that the Redskins didn't put up much of a fight on offense, so the Vikings didn't need to do too much scoring to pull out a win.

Diggs' night started out poorly, as he caught a pass over the middle and looked for a second like he might sprint for a touchdown. But instead of continuing towards the left corner of the end zone, he cut back to the right and lost the football. It was his fourth fumble of the season, which is a crazy number when you consider he hadn't fumbled since his career debut in 2015 prior to this season.

Diggs was able to turn things around after that mistake and put together his third straight huge game. He got open at will over the middle of the field, and roasted Josh Norman up the right sideline for a huge pickup on 3rd and 9 in the second half.

Diggs ended up catching all seven of his targets for 143 yards, one week after he had...seven catches for 143 yards. Adding in his 167 yards against the Eagles, Diggs has a  whopping 453 yards over the past three games. He joins Randy Moss as the only players in Vikings history to have three straight games with at least 140 receiving yards, and broke Moss's 2001 record for the most receiving yards over a three-game span in franchise history.

Not to be outdone, Cook continues to post ridiculous numbers both as a runner and a receiver. He ran 23 times for 98 yards and the game's only touchdown, adding five catches for 73 yards. It was already the third time in his career in which he has run for over 95 yards and had over 70 yards receiving, something no other Vikings player has done more than once.

On the 2-minute drill touchdown drive, where the Vikings went 75 yards in seven plays before halftime, Cook had receptions of 15 and 31 yards before punching it in on the ground.

The last 13 seasons of Vikings running backs were on display on Thursday Night. Adrian Peterson showed some flashes of his old ways, turning 16 touches into 103 yards from scrimmage and moving into sixth place on the all-time rushing list. The man known as "All Day" got a standing ovation from the crowd when that accomplishment was shown on the jumbotron, and shared an embrace with Cook after the game.

While it was cool to see the Vikings past at running back do his thing again, it's Cook, who represents the present and the future, that has Vikings fans most excited.

2. Something doesn't look right with Xavier Rhodes

Just two years ago, Xavier Rhodes was one of the most dominant cornerbacks in the NFL. He shut down elite receiver after elite receiver, using his size, technique and instincts to make plays and dissuade opposing QBs from even looking at whoever he was covering.

These days, that seems like forever ago. Rhodes had an up and down 2018, and it's been more down than up so far this season. This may have been the worst game of his career. He was repeatedly burned for uncontested catches early on in the game; Case Keenum was picking on him for the majority of the first half. Whether it was Terry McLaurin or Paul Richardson lining up across from him, Rhodes looked like a shell of his former self.

Later in the half, he committed pass interference that gave the Redskins a great chance to score from the Vikings' two yard-line.

Rhodes ended up coming out of the game to be looked at for a concussion after taking a hard hit from a Washington tight end, but was able to return in the fourth quarter. He's also been dealing with a nagging hip injury that could be slowing him.

Whatever it is, the Vikings need to figure it out fast. With second half games coming up against the likes of Tyreek Hill and Amari Cooper, plus rematches with Davante Adams, Marvin Jones and Allen Robinson, the Vikings need Rhodes to figure it out.

3. Offensive line regresses

After playing so well over the past three games, this wasn't the finest performance by the Vikings offensive line. They gave up three sacks, and allowed pressure that forced Cousins to throw the ball away a couple times.

It was an especially tough outing for Pat Elflein, the least consistent player on the line. On this play, he was manhandled by Washington defensive tackle Jonathan Allen for the bull-rush sack.

Elflein was also called for holding three different times, though only two were accepted and at least one looked like a questionable call.

This game also proved that right tackle Brian O'Neill is human. He allowed the first sack of his career – in his 23rd game – and also committed a hold. Josh Kline also appeared to be beaten for a sack, and the O-line didn't do enough to help Cousins convert a QB sneak on 4th down in the second half.

That unit will look to shake this one off and get back to playing well next week in Kansas City.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

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