DAILY CLIPS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 LOCAL NEWS: Monday, September 16, 2019

Pioneer Press

Replay official in New York overturns Vikings’ TD due to offensive pass interference By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/replay-official-in-new-york-overturns-vikings-td-due-to-offensive-pass- interference/

Packers withstand Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down gaffe By Jim Hoehn https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/packers-withstand-aaron-rodgers-fourth-down-gaffe/

Vikings’ almost carried the day in loss to Packers By Jim Hoehn https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/vikings-dalvin-cook-almost-carried-the-day-in-loss-to-packers/

Slow start doomed Vikings. But defense shut down Packers after that. By Jim Hoehn https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/slow-start-doomed-vikings-but-defense-shut-down-packers-after-that/

Late dooms Vikings in 21-16 loss at Green Bay By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/kirk-cousins-interception-dooms-vikings-in-21-16-loss-at-green-bay/

Vikings guard , LB Ben Gedeon CB Mike Hughes sit out loss to Packers By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/15/vikings-guard-pat-elflein-lb-ben-gedeon-cb-mike-hughes-out-against-packers/

Star Tribune

Missin' Cousins: Vikings quarterback throws crucial interception in 21-16 loss to Green Bay By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/missin-cousins-vikings-quarterback-throws-crucial-interception-in-21-16-loss-to-green- bay/560418722/

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins owns his bad decisions, but he's yet to evolve into a proven winner By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/vikings-quarterback-kirk-cousins-owns-his-bad-decisions-but-he-s-yet-to-evolve-into-a- proven-winner/560431912/

Dalvin Cook has 191 yards from scrimmage in Vikings' loss By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/dalvin-cook-has-191-yards-from-scrimmage-in-vikings-loss/560431792/

New York makes the ruling that negates Vikings touchdown By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/new-york-makes-the-ruling-that-negates-vikings-touchdown/560428492/

Dumb and dumber: Packers' Aaron Rodgers overcomes his error, but Vikings' Kirk Cousins makes inexcusable mistake By Chip Scoggins http://www.startribune.com/dumb-and-dumber-packers-aaron-rodgers-overcomes-his-error-but-vikings-kirk-cousins- makes-inexcusable-mistake/560433392/

Vikings display some clean and messy moments By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/vikings-display-some-clean-and-messy-moments/560439862/

Tracking Kirk Cousins' game against the Packers By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/tracking-kirk-cousins-game-against-the-packers/560437342/

Mistakes by Kirk Cousins decisive in Vikings' loss to Packers By Chip Scoggins http://www.startribune.com/mistakes-by-kirk-cousins-decisive-in-vikings-loss-to-packers/560418962/

Guard Pat Elflein, linebacker Ben Gedeon ruled out for Vikings vs. Packers in Green Bay By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/guard-pat-elflein-linebacker-ben-gedeon-ruled-out-for-vikings-vs-packers-in-green- bay/560404832/ SKOR North

Vikings Tidbits: Dalvin Cook dominates on the ground; a “selfish” decision by Stefon Diggs; blame it on the QB By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/vikings-tidbits-dalvin-cook-dominates-on-the-ground-a-selfish-decision- by-stefon-diggs-blame-it-on-the-qb/

Zulgad: Blame game: Kirk Cousins accepts responsibility for brutal day but that doesn’t fix a thing By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/zulgad-blame-game-kirk-cousins-accepts-responsibility-for-brutal-day- but-that-doesnt-fix-a-thing/

NFL explains confusing pass interference call against Vikings By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/nfl-explains-confusing-pass-interference-call-against-vikings/

Kirk Cousins on key interception: ‘Just can’t do that’ By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/kirk-cousins-explains-key-interception-just-cant-do-that/

Vikings wasted every chance at comeback in Green Bay By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/vikings-wasted-every-chance-at-comeback-in-green-bay/

Vikings starting guard out against Packers; also inactive By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/09/vikings-starting-guard-out-against-packers-mackensie-alexander-also- inactive/

The Athletic

‘You just can’t do that’: In the Lambeau spotlight, Kirk Cousins comes up empty By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/1213448/2019/09/15/you-just-cant-do-that-in-the-lambeau-spotlight-kirk-cousins-comes-up- empty/

NATIONAL NEWS: Monday, September 16, 2019

ESPN

Questionable calls, QB woes plague Vikings in loss at Green Bay By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/28817/questionable-calls-quarterback-woes-plague-vikings- in-loss-at-green-bay

QB Cousins on late INT vs. GB: 'No justification' By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27625557/qb-cousins-late-int-vs-gb-no-justification

Packers ride Rodgers' hot start to 21-16 win over Vikings By Keith Jenkins https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128098

Watch: Vikings' Dalvin Cook races 75 yards for TD By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27621651/watch-vikings-dalvin-cook-races-75-yards-td

CBS Sports

Vikings at Packers score, takeaways: How Green Bay nearly blew a 21-0 lead but escaped with a win By Bryan DeArdo https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/vikings-at-packers-score-takeaways-how-green-bay-nearly-blew-a-21-0-lead- but-escaped-with-a-win/

USA Today

Cook sets career rushing high in Vikings' loss to Packers By Andrew Seligman https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/09/15/cook-sets-career-rushing-high-in-vikings-loss-to- packers/40154525/

NFL.com

What we learned from Sunday's Week 2 games By Around the NFL Staff http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001055124/article/what-we-learned-from-sundays-week-2-games

Sports Illustrated

Offensive Pass Interference Call Leaves Both Vikings and Packers Confused By Kalyn Kahler https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/09/15/vikings-pass-interference-call-stefon-diggs-touchdown-dalvin-cook

Maven Sports

Cousins' Turnovers, Inaccuracy Cost Vikings in Narrow Loss to Packers By Will Ragatz https://mavensports.io/vikings/gameday/cousins-turnovers-inaccuracy-cost-vikings-in-narrow-loss-to-packers- V921dyzObEe-fuKxCDMEMg/

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Monday, September 16, 2019

Full Highlights: Packers 21, Vikings 16 By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/full-highlights-packers-21-vikings-16

Dalvin Cook's Best Plays vs. Packers By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/dalvin-cook-s-best-plays-vs-packers

NFL's Senior VP of Officiating Explains Why Diggs' Touchdown Was Reversed By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/nfl-s-senior-vp-of-officiating-explains-why-diggs-touchdown-was-reversed

Between The Lines: Packers 21, Vikings 16 By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/between-the-lines-packers-21-vikings-16

Pregame Tunnel + Field Sound vs. Packers By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/pregame-tunnel-field-sound-vs-packers-x7889

The Team that Transformed Football By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=4292c4f8-2f19-4cdf-96f3-f3ca340b6683

Sensational Smith By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=79156232-6b07-4956-a62d-96deb92fa689

Vikings Fall to Packers By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=42520a10-9216-46b3-a253-717d3002f62b

Vikings Fall 21-16 in Green Bay By WCCO http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=9a5b37ac-3936-40f4-9e35-c4b5d7d71846

Border Battle By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=ff01c683-f234-4248-86ca-39ff082078fa

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Monday, September 16, 2019

5 Takeaways from the Vikings Loss to Green Bay By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/5-takeaways-from-the-vikings-loss-to-green-bay

Cousins Takes Blame, Laments Missed Opportunities Against Packers By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-kirk-cousins-takes-blame-missed-opportunities-against-packers

Action Reaction: Vikings Offensive, Defensive Struggles in Red Zone Loom Large By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/action-reaction-vikings-offensive-defensive-struggles-in-red-zone-loom-large

Vikings Defense Can’t Overcome Rough Start in Road Loss to Packers By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-defense-can-t-overcome-rough-start-in-road-loss-to-packers

Cook Goes Distance on Career Long TD Run, But Vikings Fall Short of Goal By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-dalvin-cook-goes-distance-on-career-long-td-run

Vikings Comeback Falls Short in 21-16 Loss at Packers By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-comeback-falls-short-in-21-16-loss-at-packers

Vikings List of Inactive Players Against the Packers on Sunday By Chris Corso https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-list-of-inactive-players-against-the-packers-on-sunday

Monday Morning Mailbag: Examining the Ups and Downs of Sunday's Performance By The Offense, More By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/monday-morning-mailbag-examining-the-ups-and-downs-of-sunday-s-performance- by-th PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Replay official in New York overturns Vikings’ TD due to offensive pass interference

By Chris Tomasson

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs celebrated two touchdowns Sunday, but only one counted.

In Minnesota’s 21-16 loss to Green Bay at Lambeau Field, Diggs caught a 45-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. That ended up being the final score of the game.

With the Vikings trailing 21-7 with 1:08 left in the first half, Diggs thought he had scored on a 3-yard reception. But a replay official in New York determined that running back Dalvin Cook should have been called for offensive pass interference, nullifying the score.

The Vikings soon settled for a 31-yard field goal by Dan Bailey, cutting the deficit to 21-10 at halftime.

Diggs’ touchdown was called back because of the new NFL rule allowing potential pass-interference calls to be reviewed.

“Every time by rule, there’s a score or turnover, here in New York, we automatically take a look at all aspects of the play, which this year includes offensive and defensive pass interference,’’ NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron told a pool reporter after the game.

“After we looked at the play, we saw clear and obvious visual evidence that (Cook) significantly hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air. Therefore, we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards.’’

After the Vikings had first and goal at the 3, the penalty pushed the ball back to the 13. Three plays netted no yards and Bailey then kicked a field goal.

“He said it was the second guy through there that caused the penalty,’’ Vikings coach said when asked about the touchdown reversal. “It was whoever the second guy was.’’

Stefon Diggs reacts after being called for a penalty for removing his helmet during the second half. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) Diggs’ touchdown that did count also came with a penalty. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing his helmet, and the Vikings were pushed back 15 yards for the extra-point attempt. Bailey’s 48-yard attempt was blocked, leaving the score 21-16.

PLENTY OF PASS INTERFERENCE Overall, the Vikings had three offensive pass-interference penalties.

Diggs was called for one on the next-to-last play of the first half. And was called for one early in the third quarter.

“I feel like it was a point of emphasis this game,’’ said Diggs, whose penalty wiped out what would have been a 15- yard catch to the Packers 48 with 15 seconds left in the half. “I feel like they went the extra mile trying to emphasize it as a whole. We’ve just got to watch the tape and figure out what’s what.’’

Thielen was penalized on a throw into the end zone after the Vikings had first and 10 at the Packers’ 42.

“I was just trying to make a play on the ball,’’ Thielen said. “That stuff happens. You don’t want to have P.I., but at the same time you’re trying to make a play on the ball. You got to do what you got to do.’’

BRIEFLY –The Vikings were bogged down by penalties throughout they game. They were flagged eight times for 100 yards compared to six penalties for 35 yards against the Packers.

–Minnesota rookie tight end Irv Smith had his first career catch, but he lost one yard on the one ball he snagged Sunday.

–The Packers had both a runner and receiver top 100 yards. Aaron Jones had 23 carries for 116 yards and Davante Adams caught seven balls for 106 yards. PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Packers withstand Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down gaffe

By Jim Hoehn

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers doesn’t make many mistakes on the football field. But he admitted to one in Sunday’s 21-16 victory over the Vikings that could have cost the Packers more than it did.

After jumping out to leads of 21-0, then 21-7, Green Bay was in position to add another score right before the half when the Packers quarterback misinterpreted the down.

An interception gave the Packers a first down on the Vikings’ 47 with 4:04 left in the second quarter. The Packers picked up one first down before the Vikings defense stiffened, forcing a fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 25.

Rather than attempt a field goal for a possible three-possession lead, the Packers went for it on fourth down. Running back Jamaal Williams attempted to run off left tackle but was swallowed up in the backfield by Linval Joseph for a 2-yard loss.

The problem: Rodgers didn’t realize it was fourth down. He said he thought the Packers had picked up a first down on the previous play, a short pass to the left side to Geronimo Allison for no gain.

“I looked over at Carl Johnson, the line judge, and he had spotted a first down,” Rodgers said. “It looked from my vantage point that it might have been a positive questionable spot for us, and under two (minutes), that’s a booth review, so I just wanted to get us on the ball quickly.

“From the time it took Carl to spot the ball to whatever happened when it went inside, I just assumed first down, because when he put the ball down, I was looking at the first-down marker and it’s clearly past the line to gain. So, I don’t know what happened when it came back inside, but obviously I thought it was first down there, and it was definitely not first down. It was fourth down, so that was just a bad play by me.”

First-year Packers coach Matt LaFleur admitted he and Rodgers were not on the same page that play.

“I’ve got to do a better job of communicating to Aaron in that situation,” LaFleur said. “He thought it was a first down. I’ve got to let him know that we’re going to take points there. It is what it is. You live and learn, but again, that falls on me right there.”

Rodgers disagreed with LaFleur taking the blame. “I don’t make plays like that,” Rodgers said. “I always pride myself on having really good clock awareness and game awareness. I just assumed first down based on the spot and I should have just looked and made sure it was first and not fourth, because obviously fourth-and-1, we don’t want to run that play.” PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings’ Dalvin Cook almost carried the day in loss to Packers

By Jim Hoehn

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Just when the Packers were on the verge of taking complete control, Dalvin Cook brought the Vikings back into the game.

After that, he helped put them in position to salvage a victory down the stretch, despite being called for offensive pass interference that negated a touchdown, a penalty he didn’t even know he committed.

With the Vikings trailing 21-0 after the Packers’ first three possessions, Cook ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run that helped change the momentum at Lambeau Field.

“Eventually one of us was going to make a play,” Cook said. “We’ve got guys that can make plays at any moment of the game. I knew eventually one of us was going to make a play and get this thing rolling. It was just me that made the play.”

Minnesota ended its first two drives poorly, with Dan Bailey’s missed 47-yard field goal attempt and a lost by quarterback Kirk Cousins.

After the Packers’ third touchdown, Cousins opened the Vikings’ third series with an incomplete pass. On the next play, Cook burst off left tackle, made rookie safety Darnell Savage whiff on a tackle attempt at the Minnesota 45, then outran the rest of the defense to the right corner of the end zone.

“DC always shows up,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He’s a guy that can take it any given time, and you want to be there for him on the outside, as far as blocking and taking care of your man.”

Cook finished with 154 yards on 20 carries, and also caught three passes for 37 yards as the Vikings rallied. They were within 21-16 when Cousins threw an interception in the end zone on first down from the Packers’ 8 yard line with just over five minutes remaining.

“It was hard to settle in to a hostile environment,” said Cook, who ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening 28-12 victory over Atlanta at U.S. Bank Stadium. “We knew what we were coming into, tried to prepare as well we could, but you know you can never replicate the game. I was just trying to find my rhythm. We found it, but they jumped us on pretty early.”

Cook was called for offensive pass interference on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs, negating the TD and forcing the Vikings to settle for a field goal that cut the lead to 21-10 at the half. Cook was unaware that he had been called for the penalty.

“I didn’t even know it was on me,” he said. “I can’t describe it.”

Al Riveron, senior vice president of officiating, said in a statement after the game that the play was reviewed in New York because it was a touchdown and “we saw clear and obvious visual evidence that No. 33 significantly hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air.”

The penalty against Cook was one of three offensive pass interference calls against the Vikings. Diggs was flagged in the closing seconds of the first half and Adam Thielen in the third quarter.

Minnesota was penalized eight times for 100 yards, which Cook said needs to be addressed.

“We’ve just got to clean up the little things. Penalties hurt us a lot today. Self-inflicted wounds hurt us today,” he said. “When you come into an environment like this, you’ve got to limit those things. And, I think we didn’t limit them as much as we should. That’s the thing that we’ve got to back and look in the mirror and clean those things up. I think this week in practice we should emphasize that a lot on the offensive side.” PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Slow start doomed Vikings. But defense shut down Packers after that.

By Jim Hoehn

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After allowing touchdowns on the first three possessions, the Vikings defense agreed the reason was obvious.

After the unanimously agreed upon slow start, they didn’t allow a point the rest of the way. Safety Harrison Smith said the solution was simple.

“We covered, we tackled and we rushed the quarterback,” he said.

In the early going, that was not the case against the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers offense, especially against a depleted secondary that was without injured cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes.

Three possessions into the game, the Vikings were staring at a 21-0 deficit. They eventually clawed back to within 21-16 and had chances to win, but the consensus was that it was too big of a self-induced hole, too early.

“We didn’t start fast. That’s the main thing,” defensive end said. “We’ve just got to start fast. If we start fast, we’ll be good. The DBs (defensive backs) have to do their job, we’ve got to do our jobs, and everything will work out at the end of the day.”

The offense didn’t help matters early, with a missed field goal and lost fumble on the first two possessions.

On the first play from scrimmage, Rodgers found Davante Adams deep up the right side for 39 yards for a first down on the Vikings’ 36. Three plays later, Rodgers connected with running back Jamaal Williams on a 15-yard touchdown

After Dan Bailey missed a 47-yard field goal, Rodgers marched the Packers 63 yards in 11 plays, culminating in a 12-yard scoring pass to Geronimo Allison.

On the ensuing possession, Kirk Cousins’ fumble gave Green Bay a first down on the Vikings’ 33. Rodgers immediately hit Adams for a 15-yard reception. An Aaron Jones 2-yard touchdown run made it 21-0 just 44 seconds into the second quarter.

At that point, Rodgers had completed 10 of 11 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns. After that, he was 12 of 23 for just 68 yards passing.

The Packers had 230 total yards in the first half, 105 in the second. They also converted 4 of 8 third-down situations in the first half, but just 1 of 7 after the break.

“We just started playing our stuff, getting after him,” Smith said of containing Rodgers. “The guys up front, we’ve got some big dogs up front, and when they’re running after you, it’s not that much fun.”

After settling in, the Vikings defense took away most big-play opportunities, Rodgers said.

“I think they made some adjustments, and we did as well,” Rodgers said. “We just didn’t execute. We had some chances at stuff. I think they just tightened up. They made some good plays on contested balls. We had three or four opportunities where (it was a) contested catch and they made plays on the ball, which would have been big plays.”

The Packers, who struggled with new coach Matt LaFleur’s offense in a 10-3 victory over Chicago in last week’s opener, picked up the tempo early against Minnesota.

“We knew they’d start fast, and they had us off balance,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “They didn’t start fast last week, so we figured they would. They caught us in a couple of things and we were a little bit banged up in the secondary, so we had to make some adjustments.” PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Late Kirk Cousins interception dooms Vikings in 21-16 loss at Green Bay

By Chris Tomasson

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Mike Zimmer wants the Vikings to live by the run this season. On Sunday, they died by a pass.

On their way to rushing for 198 yards, the Vikings strangely abandoned the ground game when it mattered most. On first and goal from the Green Bay 8-yard line, Kirk Cousins threw a fatal fourth-quarter interception in the end zone during a 21-16 loss to Packers at Lambeau Field.

The Vikings (1-1) clawed their way back from a 21-0 deficit to get within 21-16, and were just yards from the go- ahead touchdown with 5:17 remaining in the game. Dalvin Cook was on his way to a career-high 154-yard rushing game, and Minnesota had just run the ball on seven of eight plays, gaining 47 yards.

So why didn’t the Vikings continue to pound the ball on first-and-goal at the Packers’ 8?

“That’s a good question,” said Zimmer, Minnesota’s coach. “We thought we had them tired. They were having trouble getting lined up. We thought we’d catch them.”

Hardly. Cousins’ pass in the deep right corner of the end zone to Stefon Diggs was intercepted by cornerback Kevin King, one of two Vikings covering Diggs on the play.

“It’s uncharacteristic of me,” Cousins said. “You can’t do it. What I was thinking was trying to give Diggsie a chance, and it’s kind of an our’s or nobody’s (ball). But it was not nobody’s. He went up and made a play, and you just can’t do that.”

Cousins had a rough afternoon, completing 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards while throwing two . He fumbled twice, losing one.

He also pointed the finger at himself for his first interception, when he tried to get the ball to Diggs in traffic in the second quarter, and it was picked off by linebacker Preston Smith.

“It was just a gut-wrenching loss,” Cousins said. “I’m proud of the way my teammates fought, kept fighting, but very disappointed in my performance. “I was just not good enough. …. I just didn’t feel like I did my part, and I didn’t feel like I gave our team the chance it needed.”

A shaky start on defense didn’t help the Vikings’ cause. The Packers (2-0) took a 21-0 lead with two touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter and a 2-yard TD run by Aaron Jones in the first minute of the second quarter.

After the third touchdown, Rodgers was 10 of 11 through the air for 141 yards and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. The Vikings slowed him down the rest of the way; he finished 22 of 34 for 209 yards. But the damage had been done.

“They came out and they were just more ready to start the game,” Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr said. “I’m proud of the way we played the rest of the game and shut them down for the most part, but it was a little too little, too late.”

The Vikings didn’t put much pressure on Rodgers early in the game and he carved them up. He threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jamaal Williams on the first drive and a 12-yard score to Geronimo Allison on the next drive, which followed a missed 47-yard field goal by the Vikings’ Dan Bailey.

Allison beat undrafted rookie cornerback Nate Meadors, who was called up from the practice squad on Thursday. After that, Meadors didn’t play again on defense.

“They caught us in a couple of things and we were a little banged up in the secondary, so we had to make some adjustments,” Zimmer said.

The Vikings were without injured cornerbacks Mackenie Alexander and Mike Hughes, plus Holton Hill, who is on the suspended list. But the defensive backs rebounded to play well the final three quarters.

The Vikings cut the deficit to 21-7 when Cook ran 75 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Cook carried 20 times and also caught three passes for 37 yards.

“The line gave me a crease on the back side and I just hit it with all I had,” he said of his touchdown.

The Vikings’ next two scoring drives came with some controversy. After Cousins’ 61-yard pass to moved the ball to the Packers’ 3, Cousins thought he had thrown a touchdown to Diggs with 1:08 left in the first half.

But on an officiating replay, allowed in the final two minutes of a half, the score was disallowed because Cook was called for pass interference. The Vikings settled for a Bailey field goal from 31 yards that cut the deficit to 21-10 at halftime.

The Vikings got within 21-16 on Cousins’ 45-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to Diggs. But Diggs was penalized 15 yards for removing his helmet after his score, and Bailey’s 48-yard extra-point attempt was blocked.

“We had some dumb penalties,” Zimmer said. “The penalty after the touchdown, just selfish.”

The Packers hardly were flawless themselves. They were outgained 421 yards to 335, and Rodgers and Allison both lost .

But they’ll take it.

“(We’re) 2-0 — and 2-0 in the (NFC North),” Rodgers said. “So we’re on the right track.” PUBLICATION: PIONEER PRESS DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings guard Pat Elflein, LB Ben Gedeon CB Mike Hughes sit out loss to Packers

By Chris Tomasson

GREEN BAY, Wis. — None of the players the Vikings listed on their final injury were able to play Sunday.

In addition to cornerback Mackensie Alexander, ruled out Friday with an elbow injury, sitting out the 21-16 loss to Green Bay at Lambeau Field were guard Pat Elflein (knee) and linebacker Ben Gedeon (groin), who were both listed as questionable, and cornerback Mike Hughes (knee), who was doubtful.

Safety Jayon Kearse replaced Alexander as the nickel back, took over for Elflein at left guard and Eric Wilson replaced Gedeon. Hughes has not played since suffering a torn ACL in Week 6 last year as a rookie but could return next Sunday against Oakland.

Also inactive for the Vikings Sunday were defensive tackles and and tackle Odi Udoh.

Despite Elflein being out, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said, “I thought the offensive line did a nice job in protection.”

After it was clear Saturday that Gedeon wouldn’t be able to play after being injured Friday in practice, the Vikings elevated linebacker Devante Downs from the practice squad and waived cornerback Mark Fields. A source said Fields is line to return to the team this week either on the 53-man roster or practice squad.

Active for the first time were rookies , a guard, and Nate Meadors, a cornerback. Both saw game action. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Missin' Cousins: Vikings quarterback throws crucial interception in 21-16 loss to Green Bay

By Ben Goessling

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As the Vikings neared the south end zone at Lambeau Field on Sunday, on the verge of completing a 21-point comeback in the road venue that means the most to their fans, they did so with a drive that doubled as an unapologetic statement about what kind of offense they want to run.

They hadn’t given up on the run in the 21-16 defeat when they fell behind by three touchdowns to the Packers, finding their first answer in the form of a 75-yard scoring run from Dalvin Cook and maintaining nearly an even split between run and pass as they pulled within five points. After taking over at their own 40 with 10:08 left, they called three straight runs, before Kirk Cousins picked up six yards on a 2nd-and-9 scramble and found Kyle Rudolph for five yards to convert a third down. Three more runs — the last of them a 14-yarder from — gave the Vikings first-and-goal from the Packers’ 8 with just over five minutes left.

Packers pass rusher Za’Darius Smith had limped off the field during the drive, and it seemed Green Bay’s defense was on its heels, ripe for a play-action throw that Cousins could hit for a go-ahead score.

“We thought we had them tired,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “They were having trouble getting lined up and we thought we’d catch them.”

But as a backpedaling Cousins lofted a throw into the end zone that Kevin King took away from Stefon Diggs, the Vikings’ chance at their first NFC North road win in two years withered away in a loss.

“Just a gut-wrenching loss,” Cousins said. “I’m proud of the way my teammates fought, kept fighting, but I’m very disappointed in my performance today. It just wasn’t good enough.”

While both Cousins and the Vikings have made it clear they’re better when he doesn’t have to carry them, the interception stood as the most odious moment of a day where their comeback happened almost in spite of him. He finished with the third-worst passer rating (52.9) of his career as a starter, completing just 14 of his 32 passes for 230 yards and turning the ball over three times: on a fumble and two interceptions on throws to Diggs.

Tracking Cousins: An in-depth look at Sunday's performance

The last time the Vikings — who posted 404 yards Sunday and gained 198 of them on the ground — ran for this many yards and lost was on Dec. 2, 2012, in what might have been the most spellbinding day of Adrian Peterson’s MVP season. The running back gained 210 yards on 21 carries that day at Lambeau Field, breaking away for an 82- yard touchdown to give the Vikings the lead before halftime, but a victory — which ultimately would have given the Vikings the NFC North title that year — slipped away because of two Christian Ponder interceptions in the end zone.

It remains to be seen whether Cousins’ back-footed throw into the end zone will prove as costly to the 2019 Vikings’ division title chances as Ponder’s 2012 picks at Lambeau Field. But a year after he directed a furious comeback for a Week 2 tie against the Packers, Cousins’ turnovers short-circuited the Vikings’ rally on Sunday.

“Today he made a couple mistakes, but he made some great throws as well — the throw to Diggs [for a 45-yard touchdown],” coach Mike Zimmer said. “He’s got all the talent, and we just need to continue to coach him the way we want to play.”

At times on Sunday, the Vikings effectively captured the way they want to play, recovering two fumbles and stopping the Packers on their final 11 drives of the game, including a bizarre sequence where they stuffed Green Bay on a fourth-down run after Aaron Rodgers believed the Packers had picked up a first down on the previous play. Cook ran for 154 yards, and gained another 37 on three receptions, including a 13-yard screen that took the Vikings from 2nd- and-20 to 3rd-and-7.

But Cousins overshot Diggs on a downfield throw that might have set up a touchdown on the next play, and overthrew Rudolph from a clean pocket in the red zone. The Vikings committed three offensive pass interference penalties among their eight total penalties in the game, including a Cook downfield block that was found to be a penalty when the league office reviewed a touchdown pass to Diggs.

The wide receiver threw his helmet after his 45-yard score; after his 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (which Zimmer called “just selfish”), the Packers blocked Dan Bailey’s 48-yard extra point attempt. Bailey also pulled his first field goal of the day wide left from 47 yards out.

And after the Vikings installed a series of coverage adjustments late last week, Rodgers carved them up early. He opened the game with a 39-yard strike to Davante Adams after the receiver ran a different route than Xavier Rhodes said the Vikings expected. Rodgers went 10-for-11 on the Packers’ first three drives, throwing for 141 yards as the Vikings shuttled between Jayron Kearse and Nate Meadors at nickel corner.

“They caught us on a couple things and we were a little banged up in the secondary,” Zimmer said. “We had to make some adjustments.”

They did nearly enough to come all the way back. The fact they couldn’t, in the end, sat heavy on the shoulders of the quarterback they expect to come through in big moments.

“I didn’t feel like I did my part today and I didn’t feel like I gave our team the chance it needed from my role,” Cousins said. “I’ll stand up here and take ownership of that. I had a lot of plays that did not get made.” PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins owns his bad decisions, but he's yet to evolve into a proven winner

By Jim Souhan

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Sunday, two quarterbacks made Packer-approved fashion choices at Lambeau Field.

The first: During a ceremony honoring Bart Starr, Brett Favre wore cargo shorts, paying homage to the beer-and- brats ethic of his former home. In Favre’s defense, they were his formal cargo shorts. He probably wore them at his own wedding.

The second: Kirk Cousins wore a Vikings jersey, as if to embody the torment Packers fans have escaped by watching Favre and Aaron Rodgers play the position for the past 27 seasons.

A year ago, during Week 2 of his first season with the Vikings, Cousins led them on an inspired comeback at Lambeau Field to salvage a 29-29 tie. A year later, Cousins was asked to make a few simple throws and decisions. He failed.

Cousins completed 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions as the Vikings lost 21-16. He frequently threw over the heads of open receivers, but it was the pass he didn’t throw far enough that defined his day.

The Vikings took the ball at their own 40 with 10:08 remaining. They ran it three times for 16 yards, then Cousins scrambled for 6 and Cousins threw to Kyle Rudolph for 5 more.

Three more runs totaling 25 yards gave the Vikings a first-and-goal from the 8 with 5:17 remaining. Offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski called for a play-action rollout.

The easy second guess will be that the Vikings should have kept running the ball. That would presume the offense should never throw a pass when it’s running well, which is silly.

Cousins rolled right and lofted a pass toward the back right corner of the end zone. Packers cornerback Kevin King wrestled it away for an interception and the Vikings wouldn’t threaten again.

Cousins should have thrown the ball away. Instead, an eight-year veteran signed to a record quarterback contract made a mistake that would make a rookie blush.

I thought Cousins was the right quarterback for the Vikings, given their available choices at the time — a deflated Case Keenum, a rehabilitating Teddy Bridgewater or the prospect of starting over with a drafted quarterback.

Sunday, Cousins offered the most compelling case to date that signing him was a mistake. He looked erratic and jittery. He missed wide-open receivers. And he threw that final interception, which is a résumé unto itself.

Cousins has been breaking hearts his entire NFL career, but in Washington he had binders filled with excuses: bad ownership, transient coaching, a dearth of star receivers and a team that looked hopeless before and after his time there.

In Minnesota, he was given a chance to lead a winning team, and he is 9-8-1, and his best moments came near the start of his first season. His play and the Vikings’ urgency hint he is regressing, or that the team overestimated him all along.

Sunday, on a day he would have liked to prompt comparisons to Favre and Rodgers, Cousins instead evoked memories of Christian Ponder.

In 2012, Ponder played well enough for a team with a powerhouse running game and strong defense to make the playoffs. In the 2013 opener at Detroit, he threw three horrific interceptions in a 34-24 loss. Anyone watching that game without bias knew Ponder was done. After the 2014 season, he never threw another NFL pass.

Unlike Ponder, Cousins has proved himself as an NFL passer. But he has not proved himself as an NFL winner, and as subjective as that label might be, you know one when you see one.

Cousins did not look like one at the end of last season, when he was screaming at Adam Thielen on the U.S. Bank Stadium sideline, and he did not look like one Sunday at Lambeau Field.

“I’m very disappointed in my performance today,” Cousins said. “It just wasn’t good enough … I’ll stand up here and take ownership of that.”

That was not the kind of accuracy the Vikings were looking for. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Dalvin Cook has 191 yards from scrimmage in Vikings' loss

By Andrew Krammer

Dalvin Cook was the Vikings’ only consistent offensive threat during Sunday’s 21-16 loss in Green Bay, starting with the 75-yard touchdown run that set a career long.

Cook amassed 191 yards from scrimmage, including 154 yards rushing, in the 21-16 loss to the Packers. Cook’s 265 rushing yards led the NFL through the bulk of Week 2 games, sparked by the home-run touchdown when Cook found a cutback lane behind rookie center .

“The line gave me a crease on the back side and I just hit it with all I had,” Cook said. “It was just one of those plays where I was close to being hit a couple times, but I took full advantage of it.”

Trailing by 21 points, coordinator Kevin Stefanski stuck with the running game when dialing up a handoff to Cook on the second-and-10 play that led to the touchdown.

“You can’t go away from your game plan,” Cook said. “You have to stick with it.”

Cook again had 23 touches — matching his Week 1 total against the Falcons — despite the lopsided score to start the game. He wasn’t aware of his lone low point, when Cook was flagged for offensive pass interference upon review of a scoring play, which negated Stefon Diggs’ touchdown catch.

“I don’t know,” Cook said. “I didn’t even know it was on me. I can’t describe it.”

Backup DBs targeted

The Vikings “banged-up” secondary was targeted early by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who completed 9 of 10 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. The Vikings dressed just four cornerbacks without Mackensie Alexander (elbow) and Mike Hughes (knee), and relied on safety Jayron Kearse to defend the slot.

After a 21-yard pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams, Kearse was replaced on the ensuing third down by cornerback Nate Meadors. Meadors, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, was making his NFL debut when Rodgers targeted him for a 12-yard touchdown to receiver Geronimo Allison.

“That was a bad matchup for us,” Zimmer said.

Kearse returned on the next series and played the rest of the game. Much like the defense, Kearse rebounded and had a hand in the Vikings’ shutout after falling down 21-0; he ripped a third-down pass out of receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s hands in the fourth quarter.

“I had a pretty solid game,” Kearse said. “But that light gets dimmed when you lose.”

Special teams uneven

Another rookie cornerback, Kris Boyd, committed two penalties on special teams in Green Bay. Boyd cost the Vikings 10 yards for holding on a punt return, and was flagged in the same quarter for unnecessary roughness in punt coverage for hitting the returner while he was down.

The Vikings’ special teams in Week 2 left more to be desired after the clean opener against the Falcons. Kicker Dan Bailey missed twice — a 47-yard field goal attempt wide left and an extra point when Packers cornerback Tony Brown came unblocked off the right side.

“We got the extra point blocked,” Zimmer said, “and some not-very-smart penalties on special teams.”

Etc.

• Linebacker Anthony Barr on pressuring Rodgers, who was sacked twice: “You have to be smart with the way you rush him to keep him in the pocket. I think we did that for the most part. He only had around 200 yards passing, so that is about as good as you are going to do.”

• Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon did not play after suffering a groin injury in Friday’s practice. Packers safety Raven Greene (ankle) was carted off the field in the third quarter and did not return. Guard Pat Elflein (knee) did not play after being listed questionable.

• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and retired quarterback Brett Favre were among the attendees at Lambeau Field as the Packers honored Bart Starr at halftime. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

New York makes the ruling that negates Vikings touchdown

By Mark Craig

GREEN BAY – The confusion began with John Hussey’s open mike catching the referee asking the league office in New York, essentially, “What the heck’s going on?”

“Can you tell me why we’re stopping the game?” Hussey said after Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs with 1 minute, 8 seconds left in the second quarter of Sunday’s 21-16 loss at Lambeau Field.

Diggs clearly caught the ball. And he clearly crossed the goal line to presumably move the Vikings to within a touchdown of a Packers team that led 21-0 after 16 minutes.

But this is the NFL in 2019. Assume nothing. Delay jumping for joy or punching a wall. And put no points on the board until Alberto Riveron, the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, checks to make sure there are no no-calls to be called.

When Hussey huddled in front of the replay monitor longer than usual, you knew Alberto had spotted an infraction.

“We saw clear and obvious visual evidence that No. 33 [Dalvin Cook] significantly hinders the opponent [safety Darnell Savage] while the ball is still in the air,” Riveron told this pool reporter after the game. “Therefore, we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards.”

The Vikings settled for a field goal and a 21-10 deficit. Throw in Dan Bailey’s missed 47-yard field goal and a blocked point- after attempt from 48 yards — compliments of Stefon Diggs’ 15-yard personal foul for selfishly removing his helmet after a touchdown catch — and, well, the Vikings would have been leading with 5:10 left. And, who knows, Cousins probably doesn’t throw his second horribly forced interception of the day on first-and-goal from the 8.

But …

Don’t blame Riveron. Cook did help clear a path when he blocked Savage while the ball was in the air.

It was offensive pass interference, one of three on the Vikings and four in the game. And the new rule, adopted on a one- year trial basis, is PI calls and no-calls are reviewable from the booth when there’s a turnover, a score or the game is in the final two minutes of a half.

If you’re grumpy about the call, blame the Saints for getting hosed out of a Super Bowl trip on the mother-of-all no calls in last year’s NFC title game.

Coaches, of course, have been complaining about offensive pass interference on the goal line for years. As Star Tribune sports columnist Patrick Reusse points out, nobody complained more bitterly and regularly about pick plays on the goal line than Vikings Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant.

Sunday, the league office and the game officials weren’t shy about calling OPIs. Besides Cook, Diggs and Adam Theilen both were flagged.

“I feel like it was a point of emphasis this game,” said Diggs, who had an animated conversation with field judge Allen Baynes coming off the field at halftime. “I feel like they went the extra mile trying to emphasize it as a whole, so we’ve just got to watch the tape and figure out what’s what.

“I don’t know the call. I haven’t seen it on tape. I asked him at halftime. He said, ‘You can’t close [your] fist, use your shoulder. You can’t extend at all.’”

After the game, coach Mike Zimmer still wasn’t clear what happened on the negated touchdown. He said it was his understanding that it wasn’t on Cook but rather “the second guy that came through.”

But New York made it clear that it definitely was Cook. And that was news to Cook in the locker room after the game.

“That was the play call, we got out and I don’t know [what happened],” he said. “I can’t tell you. I didn’t even know it was on me, to be real. So I can’t respond. I can’t describe it.”

Welcome to the NFL, 2019. If you think you’ve gotten away with pass interference, just remember. Alberto is watching your every move from New York. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Dumb and dumber: Packers' Aaron Rodgers overcomes his error, but Vikings' Kirk Cousins makes inexcusable mistake

By Chip Scoggins

GREEN BAY – Aaron Rodgers described his mistake as a “bonehead” play. Of course, his gaffe late in the first half ranked far below Kirk Cousins’ interceptions on the Richter scale of boneheaded plays, but Rodgers lamented his own weird oopsie moment.

Rodgers got confused over the correct down with the Green Bay Packers in position to stretch their lead, resulting in a miscommunication that opened the door for the Vikings to cut into the Packers’ lead right before halftime.

The sequence dramatically changed the tenor of the game, but it didn’t alter the outcome, as Cousins’ turnovers trumped Rodgers’ brain cramp in a 21-16 Vikings loss at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

“That was a bad play by me,” Rodgers said.

A controversial pass interference penalty on Dalvin Cook and Cousins’ backbreaking mistakes will get more scrutiny, but the entire game pivoted on one play.

Leading 21-7, the Packers faced a third-and-1 from the Vikings 25-yard line with two minutes left in the first half. A touchdown or field goal would have made it a threescore lead and snuffed any momentum the Vikings had established after a disastrous start.

Rodgers completed a pass to wide receiver Geronimo Allison, who was tackled near the line of scrimmage by safeties Jayron Kearse and Harrison Smith.

Rodgers said he looked at line judge Carl Johnson and thought he marked the spot at the 24, which would have been a first down.

“It looked from my vantage point that it might have been a positive questionable spot for us,” Rodgers said.

The clock was under two minutes, allowing for a booth review, so Rodgers rushed the offense to the line to run another play before a review could happen, thinking it was first down.

Instead, the ball was spotted at the 25, no gain, making it fourth down. Jamaal Williams took the handoff and was tackled by Linval Joseph for a 2-yard loss. Change of possession.

Rodgers was incredulous when he realized what had happened, noting he earned “an extra finger of scotch” later that night.

“I don’t make plays like that,” he said. “I always pride myself on having really good clock awareness and game awareness. I should have looked to make sure it was first and not fourth. Obviously fourth-and-1, we don’t want to run that play.”

First-year Packers coach Matt LaFleur took blame for the mix-up, indicating he should have called a timeout because he knew it wasn’t a first down.

“I’ve got to do a better job communicating to Aaron in that situation,” LaFleur said. “I’ve got to let him know that we’re going to take the points there. You live and learn. That falls on me.”

The Vikings capitalized on the gift. A 61-yard catch and run by Chad Beebe set up a controversial end to the half. Stefon Diggs’ 3-yard touchdown catch was overturned when a booth review flagged Cook for offensive pass interference. The Vikings settled for a field goal, trimming the halftime deficit to 21-10.

New ballgame at that point.

Didn’t matter, because Cousins’ lack of composure and reckless decisionmaking prevented the Vikings from pulling off an improbable comeback.

No one expects Cousins to outduel Rodgers because they reside in different quarterback tiers. But the Vikings should expect — and demand — that their $84 million quarterback not panic like an overwhelmed rookie at critical moments. Throwing a pass up for grabs into double coverage in the end zone on first down from the 8-yard line with the game on the line is inexcusable.

The start by the Vikings’ defense wasn’t exactly a Mona Lisa, either. Rodgers was surgical in carving up a depleted secondary in sprinting to a 21-0 lead. Mike Zimmer’s defense settled in, however, and held Rodgers in check after that.

That’s why this feels like a major missed opportunity for the Vikings, as strange as that sounds considering how the game started. Rodgers estimated that the Packers’ new-look offense under LaFleur has produced only “a couple good quarters out of eight.”

“The biggest thing is that we’re 2-0,” he said.

One boneheaded play didn’t derail them. The Vikings can’t say the same for their quarterback.

PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings display some clean and messy moments

By Mark Craig

1. Clean pockets aplenty for Cousins

Kirk Cousins talked last week about NFL pockets being “clean” and sometimes particularly “messy.” Watching from the press box in Sunday’s 21-16 loss at Green Bay, Cousins had what this observer deemed a clean pocket 19 times in his 35 dropbacks. He threw 32 passes, took off running twice and was sacked once. The most interesting part was how poorly some of his throws were out of the cleanest pockets and having the most time to throw. He overthrew Adam Thielen for what would have been a big gain on third-and-8 with time to throw. He threw his first interception — into a crowd of four Packers — with time to throw. He threw two red-zone incompletions with time to throw. He did, however, use clean pockets on his 45-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs and a 30-yard completion to Adam Thielen.

2. Kline leaves feet on strip sack

Cousins keeps talking in great detail about what he needs to do to cut down on his fumbling. And yet he keeps fumbling. He has lost eight of 13 fumbles in 18 games with the Vikings, including one of four in two games this season. Sunday, he fumbled running the ball. Rookie tight end Irv Smith Jr. fought valiantly at the bottom of a pile to wrestle the ball back from a Packer. Then, on the next snap, Cousins was stripped of the ball on a sack. He never saw it coming. Nose tackle Kenny Clark started over center Garrett Bradbury and crossed to his left when tackle Dean Lowry crashed low and to his right. Right guard Josh Kline left his feet to pounce on Lowry, allowing Clark an open path to Cousins. Kline could have prevented the sack, but Cousins still needs to secure the ball.

3. Harrison at heart of turnaround

The Vikings needed someone to wake up and be a leader defensively when they trailed 21-0 just 16 minutes into the game. That someone was 2017 first-team All-Pro Harrison Smith. After posting three touchdowns in three possessions, Green Bay’s fourth possession ended with Smith helping Xavier Rhodes on a pass defense on Geronimo Allison. Smith got credit for a forced fumble and recovery at the Vikings’ 28. Two possessions later, Smith flashed the wide range of talents that make him Mike Zimmer’s favorite weapon. On first-and-15 from the Green Bay 30, Smith ran with receiver Davante Adams well enough to be in position to punch a deep ball from the receiver’s hands. On the next play, Smith was crowding the line when he dropped receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling for a 3-yard loss. Green Bay’s last 11 drives ended with eight punts, two turnovers and a loss of downs.

4. Run defense, where … are … you?

The Vikings proved again that better coaching and a healthy Dalvin Cook will take them a long way in the run game. Cook averaged 7.7 yards on 20 carries as the Vikings ran for 198 yards. But where the heck was coach Mike Zimmer’s vaunted run defense? Yes, quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a perfect passer rating (158.3) when the Packers led 21-0. But it was running back Aaron Jones who was keeping the Packers balanced. He had 31 yards, a touchdown and a long run of 15 yards, enabling the Packers to have a 10-8 pass-run split. When Zimmer’s defense begins to crack, it’s typically the run defense that starts the slide. And, yes, it doesn’t help that the Vikings played without cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes and Holton Hill. But the Packers still ran 33 times for 144 yards (4.4) and a touchdown.

5. No three-headed punt returner

Before the season, special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf said the Vikings planned to use three punt returners depending on field position. The three were Chad Beebe, and rookie Olabisi Johnson. So far, only Beebe has fielded punts and there appears to be no plans or logic in alternating three inexperienced guys. After calling fair catches on all three attempts in Week 1, Beebe vowed to be more aggressive at Green Bay. He was. He returned four punts and fair caught two. The first punt went out of bounds after a Beebe muff. He had another muff that he recovered for no gain. He also had two 10-yard returns and a 15-yard return to the Vikings’ 40 early in the fourth quarter. That gave the offense a shorter field, but Cousins wasted it with his interception in the end zone on first-and-goal from the 8.

PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Tracking Kirk Cousins' game against the Packers

By Andrew Krammer

We will track Kirk Cousins all year long in his second season as the Vikings quarterback.

Inside the numbers

Attempts 32

Completions 14

Yards 230

Touchdowns 1

Interceptions 2

Passer rating 52.9

Turnovers 3

Performance

Grade: 2 out of 10

Cousins was critical of his play after Sunday’s 21-16 loss in Green Bay. He committed three costly turnovers, including the fourth-quarter interception by Packers cornerback Kevin King in the end zone. Cousins was unable to find a consistent connection throughout the loss, even as the Vikings’ defensive resurgence led to five consecutive Packers punts in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Cousins completed only four of eight passes for 35 yards and an interception. It was a dismal performance to begin Cousins’ second run through the NFC North.

The Good

Flashes of production: Three throws accounted for about 60% of Cousins’ yardage in Green Bay. They were the 61-yard catch-and-run from receiver Chad Beebe — a short pass Cousins threw while taking a hit; the 45-yard touchdown toss to receiver Stefon Diggs, a huge play on third down over Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander; and another third-down conversion on the 30-yard contested catch by receiver Adam Thielen over Alexander. On Cousins’ other 29 throws, he completed only 11 for 94 yards. Cousins also picked up 17 rushing yards on two scrambles.

The Bad

Ball control: Cousins sailed a couple passes, including one to an open Thielen on third-and-8 in the third quarter and another third-down throw in the fourth quarter to a leaping Diggs. His biggest gaffes, however, were the three turnovers. Cousins threw into heavy traffic to Diggs, admitting he should’ve checked down to tight end Kyle Rudolph, when his pass was batted and intercepted by Packers defensive end Preston Smith. Cousins also fumbled on back-to-back plays — a first- down scramble fumble, recovered by tight end Irv Smith Jr., and the strip-sack by Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Cousins said his last interception, a fourth-quarter lob picked by King the back of the end zone, was “not justifiable.”

Quotable

“That’s tough, because you feel like if you hit that maybe he scores, maybe we’re first-and-goal from the 5, or whatever it is. It changes the flow of the game. Those are the ones you are really frustrated about when you’re walking to the sideline.” – Kirk Cousins on overthrowing Diggs on a third-and-7 play in the fourth quarter.

Analysis

Cousins’ completion rate of 43.8% (14 of 32) against the Packers is the second-worst mark of his career, ahead of only his fourth NFL start ever for Washington in December 2013 when Cousins completed 38.8% of his passes against the Giants. Cousins’ connection was particularly poor with Diggs, who caught one of seven targets (and dropped one). It was easily Diggs’ worst catch rate in an NFL game.

PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Mistakes by Kirk Cousins decisive in Vikings' loss to Packers

By Chip Scoggins

GREEN BAY, Wis. – That was a wild, weird and controversial edition of a historic rivalry.

There is a lot to unpack from the Vikings’ 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

The long list includes the Vikings’ horrendous start, Stefon Diggs’ overturned TD, a million penalties, OPIs galore, Dalvin Cook’s brilliance, the defense’s 180 and Kirk Cousins’ turnovers.

Cousins’ mistakes were killer, especially his final interception in the end zone with the Vikings in position to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.

Throwing into double coverage on first down was either a panicky or overly daring move that shouldn’t happen with a veteran quarterback in that critical situation.

Here are other key decisions that created an eventful game:

Scenario 1: Green Bay’s game plan early

Decision: Aaron Rodgers used play-action on the first play of the game to hit a wide-open Davante Adams for a 39-yard catch.

Reaction: Xavier Rhodes had coverage on Adams but released him so not sure if this was busted coverage/miscommunication or what. But it was the start of Rodgers’ masterful first half in which he exploited the Vikings’ thin secondary in building a 21-0 lead.

The Vikings were without nickel corner Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes, forcing Jayron Kearse to start at slot/nickel. Kearse gave too much cushion on a 21-yard completion to Adams on the second possession, which caused Mike Zimmer to insert Nate Meadors at nickel. Rodgers promptly went at him on a 12-yard TD catch by Geronimo Allison.

Rodgers completed eight of his first nine passes (the lone incompletion was a throwaway) for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Scenario 2: Dalvin Cook’s 75-yard TD run

Decision: Down 21-0, Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski didn’t panic and start throwing the ball every down. Yes, the game was still early and the line was having problems protecting Kirk Cousins. But Stefanski wisely put the ball in Cook’s hands.

Cook eluded two tackles on a run up the middle that resulted in a 75-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-7 and breathe life into his sideline.

Reaction: Cook is a game changer, capable of scoring any time he touches the ball. With Cousins struggling, the Vikings had to stick with the game plan despite falling into a deep hole.

Scenario 3: Cousins INT

Decision: Late in the first half, with the Vikings gaining some momentum, Cousins forced a throw to Diggs in the middle of the field with four Packers defenders around him. Four! The ball was deflected and then intercepted by linebacker Preston Smith, giving the Packers the ball back around midfield.

Reaction: That can’t happen. Period. Bad decision by Cousins.

Scenario 4: The Packers were in position to capitalize on Cousins’ mistake with third-and-1 from the Vikings’ 25. Rodgers completed a pass to Allison, but Kearse and Harrison Smith tackled him at the line for no gain.

Decision: Rodgers rushed the offense to the line and did a quick handoff to Jamaal Williams, who was hit by Linval Joseph behind the line for a 2-yard loss. Rodgers complained to referee John Hussey as he ran off the field.

Reaction: I assume that Rodgers either thought Allison had gotten a first down on his catch, or that he knew it was close and wanted to beat a review. Presumably, the Packers would have kicked a field goal in that situation if they had known it was fourth down.

Whatever happened, it was a bad mistake because the Vikings used it to get late points right before halftime.

Scenario 5: Cook’s OPI

Decision: Stefon Diggs scored on a 3-yard TD catch at the end of the first half, but it was overturned when a booth review signaled Cook for pass interference at the goal line.

That pushed the Vikings back 10 yards and they settled for a field goal, cutting the halftime deficit to 21-10.

Reaction: Two thoughts: 1) I honestly didn’t know a PI could be called on a booth review in that situation; 2) I don’t agree with the call.

My colleague Mark Craig is the pool reporter and will get explanation from referee John Hussey after the game on the penalty.

Scenario 6: Diggs’ celebration penalty

Decision: Diggs caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter on a beautifully thrown pass by Cousins. One problem. Diggs took his helmet off to celebrate. The penalty moved the extra point back, and Dan Bailey’s kick was blocked, putting the score at 21-16.

Reaction: I hate the rule, but it is a rule.

Scenario 7: Cousins’ INT

Decision: With the Vikings at the Green Bay 8 on first down, Cousins scrambled to his right and floated a pass to Diggs into double coverage in the corner of the end zone. Packers cornerback Kevin King made a leaping interception with 5:10 remaining.

Reaction: Another poor decision by Cousins.

PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 9/16/19

Guard Pat Elflein, linebacker Ben Gedeon ruled out for Vikings vs. Packers in Green Bay

By Andrew Krammer

The Vikings will be without guard Pat Elflein and linebacker Ben Gedeon for Sunday afternoon’s game in Green Bay.

Elflein, who emerged from last week’s win against the Falcons with a knee injury, was questionable to play after being limited in practices on Thursday and Friday. Elflein tested his knee in the west end zone of Lambeau Field about three hours before kickoff while being directed by the team’s strength coach, athletic trainer and offensive line coaches.

Guard Dakota Dozier, 28, will start for the Vikings. Dozier signed a one-year deal in free agency after spending five NFL seasons with the Jets.

Gedeon, who was questionable to play due to a groin injury suffered during Friday’s practice, also will not play. Gedeon worked out at Lambeau about two hours before kickoff.

Cornerback Mike Hughes is sidelined for his second game. He was listed doubtful to play after practicing in full Friday for the first time since suffering his multi-ligament knee injury about 10.5 months ago.

Just four cornerbacks — Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Kris Boyd and Nate Meadors — are active for the Vikings as Mackensie Alexander is out after dislocating his elbow last week against the Falcons.

Safety Jayron Kearse is expected to fill Alexander’s role as the slot defender in the Vikings’ often-used nickel package.

Vikings’ inactives: Elflein (knee), Gedeon (groin), Alexander (elbow), Hughes (knee), DT Jalyn Holmes, DT Armon Watts and OT .

Packers’ inactives: LB Oren Burks (chest), WR Darrius Shepherd (hamstring), CB Ka’Dar Hollman, DL Kingsley Keke, RB Dexter Williams, OL Lucas Patrick and OL Cole Madison.

PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings Tidbits: Dalvin Cook dominates on the ground; a “selfish” decision by Stefon Diggs; blame it on the QB

By Judd Zulgad

GREEN BAY — The Vikings trailed the Packers 21-0 early in the second quarter Sunday at Lambeau Field, when Kirk Cousins handed off to Dalvin Cook. The third-year running back did the rest, taking off for a 75-yard touchdown run in which he left Packers safety Darnell Savage grabbing at air around midfield.

Cook was far from done. He finished the Vikings’ 21-16 loss with a career-high 154 yards on 20 carries, giving him an average of 7.7 yards per rush. He also caught three passes for 37 yards and fought Packers defenders for extra yards. This came a week after Cook rushed for 111 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns against the Falcons in a Week 1 victory.

This is why so many said that Cook’s ability to stay healthy and remain on the field is so important to the Vikings’ success. Cook played in only four games as a rookie before suffering an ACL injury that ended his season. He missed five games last season because of a hamstring issue. But when Cook is healthy and running at full strength he’s one of the best running backs in the league.

“The line gave me a crease on the back side, and I just hit it with all I had,” Cook said of his touchdown run. “It was just one of those plays where I was close to being hit a couple of times, but I took full advantage of it.”

SKOR North ✔ @SKORNorth COOKED ‘EM!

Embedded video 43 12:52 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy See SKOR North's other Tweets A “SELFISH” PLAY

The Vikings pulled within 21-16 in the third quarter on Cousins’ 45-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs but the wide receiver then was assessed a 15-yard penalty when he took off his helmet immediately after the score and appeared to say something to the Packers fans sitting behind the end zone.

“The penalty after the touchdown (was) just selfish,” coach Mike Zimmer said.

It also ended up being costly as the Packers elected to have the yardage marked off on Dan Bailey’s extra-point attempt. That meant it came from the 30-yard line. Sure enough, the kick was blocked by Green Bay’s Tony Brown.

Bailey also had a 47-yard field-goal attempt sail wide left on the Vikings’ first possession in the opening quarter after Green Bay had scored a touchdown on its opening drive. Bailey did hit a 31-yard attempt later in the game.

BLAME IT ON RODGERS

The Packers were leading 21-7 late in the second quarter when Aaron Rodgers pass to Geronimo Allison went for no gain. That set up a chance for a field goal that could have put the Packers up 24-7. Instead, Green Bay went for it and Jamaal Williams lost 2 yards.

The Vikings got a 31-yard field goal from Bailey out of the ensuing possession to pull within 11 at the half. So why didn’t Packers coach Matt LaFleur take the three points?

Turns out that was a question for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I looked over at Carl Johnson, the line judge, and he had spotted a first down,” Rodgers said. “It looked from my vantage point that it might have been a positive questionable spot for us, and under two (minutes) that’s a booth review, so I just wnted to get us on the ball quickly.

“From the time it took Carl to spot the ball to whatever happened when it went inside, I just assumed first down, because when (Johnson) put the ball down I was looking at the first-down marker and it’s clearly past the line to gain. So I don’t know what happened when it came back inside, but obviously I thought it was first down there and it was definitely not first down, it was fourth down. So that was just a bad play by me.”

PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

Zulgad: Blame game: Kirk Cousins accepts responsibility for brutal day but that doesn’t fix a thing

By Judd Zulgad

GREEN BAY — A year ago, the Vikings left Lambeau Field following a tie believing that their three-year, $84 million investment in Kirk Cousins might pay off in a big way. On Sunday, the Vikings departed Lambeau after a 21-16 loss to Green Bay likely wondering if Cousins’ rich contract will end up costing people their jobs.

Cousins took full responsibility for what went wrong in a game in which the Vikings fell behind 21-0 in the second quarter but had a chance to take the lead with 5 minutes, 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter. That was when the Vikings decided to put the game in Cousins’ hands and ruined their chances of escaping with a miracle victory and 2-0 record by doing so.

A series that began at the Minnesota 40-yard line and featured seven runs (for 47 yards) and a 5-yard pass to Kyle Rudolph to put the ball at the Green Bay 8, featured a scrambling Cousins making an ill-advised throw into double coverage for Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone. It was intercepted by Packers cornerback Kevin King. It should have been thrown away. Everyone in the stadium knew that. Ideally, the Vikings would have kept running the ball considering it was first-and-goal and Dalvin Cook was having a wonderful day.

Cousins finished 14-of-32 for 230 yards with a touchdown — a nice 45-yard pass to Stefon Diggs in the third quarter that pulled the Vikings within five — and two interceptions (it should have been three but Packers corner Jaire Alexander dropped a pick on the possession after King’s interception.) Cousins also had two more fumbles — bringing his season total to four — and lost one on a first quarter sack that gave Green Bay a short field and a touchdown.

Everything that Cousins has worked on fixing during his eight-year NFL career wasn’t fixed on Sunday. So Cousins took responsibility? So what? If that’s the biggest change he’s made since 2018, it’s not good enough.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was asked afterward why he remains confident that Cousins can lead his team to a Super Bowl? Zimmer is often blunt in his remarks, but this time he was very careful not to throw his quarterback under the bus. “Today, he made a couple mistakes, but the guy made some great throws as well,” Zimmer said. “The (touchdown) throw to Diggs … so he’s got all the talent and we just need to continue to coach him in the way that we want him to play.”

Coach him in the way you want him to play? This isn’t some rookie just starting out. This is a guy who was considered the final piece to a Super Bowl puzzle two years ago, because you didn’t trust Case Keenum to get you over that hump. You don’t guarantee an NFL player’s contract in full — something that is unheard of in this league — in order to coach him up.

You give him that contract so you get a day like this: 35-of-48 for 425 yards with four touchdowns, one interception and a 118.8 passer rating. Those were Cousins’ numbers in the Vikings’ 29-29 tie with the Packers last season at Lambeau.

Anyone who believes Cousins can do that on any type of regular basis is naïve. Cousins threw 10 passes in the Vikings’ victory over Atlanta in Week 1 and it was applauded in this space because it made him into a game manager in Gary Kubiak’s offense. That’s the role Cousins should be asked to play because asking him to play a starring role is inviting in- game disaster.

Kubiak’s scheme was supposed to put Cousins more at ease, but instead he never looked more flustered than he did on Sunday. He missed his wide receivers with throws that sailed high. The pressure he felt, in part because the Vikings did little to fix the pass blocking deficiencies in their offensive line, resulted in a few passes that simply bounced in front of the receivers.

Cousins’ first pick came in the second quarter when he telegraphed his intentions, allowing safety Darnell Savage to jump the route, and linebacker Preston Smith to intercept a pass intended for Diggs. That came on third down. The Vikings finished 4-of-13 on that down. Not exactly what you would expect with a veteran quarterback leading the way.

The shame of the loss was that Cook’s day now means little. He rushed for 154 yards on 20 carries, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, and scored the Vikings’ first touchdown on a marvelous 75-yard run. That performance comes after he went for 111 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns against the Falcons. Cook is the star of this offense.

“There’s no justification,” Cousins said of his fourth-quarter pick. “It was unacceptable, it put my team in a terrible position. We had worked so hard to get down there, had a great chance to take the lead, potentially win the game. I just took it out of our hands by making that throw.”

The sad reality is that the more Vikings decide to take it out of Cousins’ hands, meaning they’ll need to rely on defense and Cook, the more they will give themselves a chance to win games. Cousins reminded everyone of that on Sunday by managing his team right into defeat. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

NFL explains confusing pass interference call against Vikings

By Matthew Coller

GREEN BAY — The appeared to be right back in it when there was a surprising stoppage and call for review. Nobody inside Lambeau Field could figure out what was being examined following a Stefon Diggs four-yard touchdown catch that appeared to bring the Vikings within one score. Minutes later, the score was taken off the board. More confusion.

Upon review, the review found that Dalvin Cook had interfered with a Packers defender.

“Here in New York we automatically look take a look at all aspects of the play, which this year includes offensive and defensive pass interference,” senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron told a pool reporter. “After we looked at the play, we saw clear and obvious visual evidence that No. 33 [Dalvin Cook] significantly hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air. Therefore we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards.”

NFL Officiating ✔ @NFLOfficiating In #MINvsGB, a flag for offensive pass interference on Minnesota #33 was put on the ground from New York, negating a touchdown. Here’s the explanation:

Embedded video 273 1:39 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 718 people are talking about this Cook said following the game he had no clue he was the one who had committed the infraction.

“On the replay I saw he got pushed, initially, and then made contact with another defender – the second defender,” Diggs said. “I ain’t the ref. I don’t call the flag but I’ve got to look at the rulebook. I don’t know.”

As to whether the referees gave an explanation beyond the announcement throughout the stadium that a player “was blocking,” Diggs said the players were not told why the touchdown was negated.

“No, they didn’t say s—,” Diggs said. “We just had to eat it. And you know how the rest happened.”

Diggs was called for another offensive pass interference on a play that could have given the Vikings a chance to score again before halftime. Instead they ran out the clock and went into the locker room. He was later penalized after scoring a 45-yard touchdown for taking off his helmet.

“I just feel like, you saw how the game was going,” Diggs said. “I ain’t saying no names. I feel like they’re the people wearing black and white. I’m not saying no names. You saw how it was going. I had an early situation with the PI… you all saw what happened.”

Adam Thielen was also called for an offensive pass interference on a long pass into the end zone by Kirk Cousins.

:Just trying to make a play on the ball, that stuff happens,” Thielen said. “Obviously you don’t want to have a PI on you but trying to make a play on the ball and you have to do what you have to do.” PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

Kirk Cousins on key interception: ‘Just can’t do that’

By Mathew Coller

GREEN BAY — Usually Kirk Cousins looks straight forward and makes eye contact during his post-game press conferences. On Sunday, he paused at times and repeatedly looked down at the lectern and shook his head as he explained the mistakes that cost the Minnesota Vikings a win at Lambeau Field.

“I like the way our team fought, we were right there at the end as a result of the way our team kept playing,” Cousins said. “Frustrating game. Walking away I didn’t feel like I did my part. I didn’t feel like I gave our team the chance that it needed from my role and that’s very, very frustrating, very disappointing. I’ll stand up here and take ownership for that. A lot of plays that did not get made out there.”

With 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter with his team down 21-16 to the Green Bay Packers, Cousins rolled out and threw into double coverage toward Stefon Diggs in the back of the end zone. Cornerback Kevin King came down with the ball and the Vikings walked away with a loss.

“We talked about it all week, you just can’t do that,” Cousins said. “It’s uncharacteristic of me. Can’t do it. What I was thinking is to try to give [Stefon Diggs] a chance and kind of an ours-or-nobody’s thing but it wasn’t nobody’s. He went and made a play and you just can’t do that.”

Adding to the puzzling decision was the fact that the Vikings had run for 47 yards on seven carries on that potential go- ahead drive and rookie Alexander Mattison scampered 14 yards to set the Vikings up at the Green Bay 8-yard line.

“Certainly you say that on the sideline afterwards, everybody said, ‘we should have run it,’ but I shouldn’t put our coordinator in that position, I should throw the ball away and move to the next down,” Cousins said.

The interception was just the most notable miscue in a game wrought with mistakes from the Vikings’ quarterback. Down 21-7 in the second quarter, he attempted to force a ball into coverage and safety Darnell Savage tipped it to Preston Smith for an interception.

“I can’t throw that one in there, too much traffic,” Cousins said.

He also fumbled twice, once on a first down run and then on a sack by defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The second fumble allowed the Packers to go up by three scores early. Cousins explained that he needed to hold the ball tighter to his body when the pocket was collapsing.

The Vikings came back in the game in part because of a 45-yard touchdown pass to Diggs and 75-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook. In total Minnesota ran for 198 yards on 27 carries in the loss.

“We are running the football well and I think you run in this league and when you do that you can win games week in and week out, I’m encouraged by how well we’ve run the football in these first two weeks and it’s something that will serve us well going forward,” Cousins said. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings wasted every chance at comeback in Green Bay

By Matthew Coller

GREEN BAY — Through sixteen minutes of football at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers looked like a juggernaut. Over the final 44 minutes, the Packers played only slightly better than one of the teams hoping to draft No. 1 overall. And — to paraphrase Denny Green — the Minnesota Vikings let them off the hook in a 21-16 defeat.

“Disappointing loss today,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “We didn’t start out very well defensively, 21-point deficit to start the game. We fought hard but we didn’t play well enough to win.”

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers received the opening kickoff immediately hit Davante Adams for a 39-yard pass. Seconds later they were in the end zone, going 75 yards for a touchdown in just 2:10. Following a Vikings missed field goal, they did it again, driving 63 yards for another TD pass by Rodgers, this time picking on the Vikings’ depth at defensive back, tossing the ball easily over recently-elevated safety Nate Meadors.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins then fumbled twice on the same drive, setting up Rodgers and the Packers at the Minnesota 33- yard line. That drive ended as quickly as the first and with the same result.

Before Packers fans were even inside the building from their morning tailgating efforts, it was a three-score game.

And then Green Bay did absolutely everything imaginable to give the game back to the Vikings.

The Packers immediately gave up a 75-yard touchdown run to Dalvin Cook, who made the Green Bay defense look like the Arizona Cardinals’ reserves in preseason. Then Green Bay fumbled in Minnesota territory.

But Cousins gave them another shot with an interception on a throw into quadruple coverage.

Still up 21-7 just before halftime, the Packers had an opportunity to put a nail in the Vikings’ coffin. After failing on third-and- 1, Rodgers ran his offense back up to the line of scrimmage and handed the ball to Aaron Jones, who was stuffed by Linval Joseph — as everyone over the last five years has been when they run up the middle in short yardage situations.

The Vikings took advantage, driving downfield for a touchdown to chop the lead to seven points — or so it seemed. The referees received word that the play needed to be reviewed and after an outrageously long look at the play, they determined Cook had interfered with a defender and the touchdown was nullified. The Vikings instead made it 21-10.

Coming out of the half, the Packers fumbled again, this time on a botched snap.

Despite a tremendously weak offensive pass interference call against Adam Thielen, the Vikings hit on a shot play to Stefon Diggs for a 42-yard touchdown

Of course, Diggs ripped off his helmet for a penalty, pushing the extra point back to the 48-yard line. The kick was blocked.

“We had some dumb penalties today and the penalty after the touchdown, just selfish,” Zimmer said.

Green Bay then went ultra conservative, hoping that the running game could find holes in the Vikings defense. It did not and four straight drives ended with punts.

But Kirk Cousins still very much being Kirk Cousins, he could not take advantage of the gracious gifts handed to him by Matt LaFleur and Green Bay.

Cook and Alexander Mattison plowed the Packers down the field, putting the Vikings in scoring position, just close enough to the end zone for Cousins to make a tremendously bad decision. Rolling away from pressure on first down, he heaved the ball into double coverage and cornerback Kevin King grabbed it for an interception.

Still Green Bay stayed colder than Lambeau in December on offense going three-and-out following the pick and the Vikings once again declined to accept the chance to win. Cousins overthrew a receiver on third-and-7 and the Vikings punted.

“I had a lot of plays that did not get made, that got left out there,” Cousins said. “I think that’s why it’s extra frustrating. If you lose but you feel like you put your best foot forward and did all you could, you could certainly look at that silver lining. Today it felt like there were too many plays that were there to be made that weren’t made.”

The Vikings’ loss in Green Bay had a little bit of everything — bad calls, missed kicks, turnovers, big plays and inexplicable decisions. Ultimately Cousins and the offense were given every chance to overcome the bad start and pull off a remarkable comeback. Instead another big game in the Cousins era ends with regret and missed opportunities.

“These games are their own entity, so this one is over and as frustrating as it was, it doesn’t bleed into next week,” Cousins said. “We won’t start at a deficit, it’s 0-0…you’ve got to go back out and certainly correct the mistakes and make sure they don’t become more of a pattern.” PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings starting guard out against Packers; Mackensie Alexander also inactive

By Judd Zulgad

GREEN BAY, WIS. — Vikings right guard Pat Elflein is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Packers because of a knee injury he suffered in the season opener a week ago against Atlanta.

Elflein, who was moved from center to guard this season, was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday, after sitting out Wednesday, and was listed as questionable on the injury report. Dakota Dozier will replace Elflein. Dozier signed with the Vikings last April after being drafted by the Jets in the fourth round in 2014.

Other notable inactives for the Vikings include cornerback Mackensie Alexander (elbow) and linebacker Ben Gedeon (groin). Eric Wilson will start in place of Gedeon. It’s expected that safety Jayron Kearse will take many of Alexander’s snaps in the nickel defense. Cornerback Mike Hughes, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered last season, also is inactive.

The Vikings also made a roster move on Saturday, signing linebacker Devante Downs to the active roster from the practice squad and waiving cornerback Mark Field. PUBLICATION: THE ATHLETIC DATE: 9/16/19

‘You just can’t do that’: In the Lambeau spotlight, Kirk Cousins comes up empty

By Chad Graff

As the Vikings took the ball inside the Packers’ 10-yard line, members of the team’s defense stood up and inched closer to the sideline. They’re typically seated on the bench away from the action, but they wanted to feel a part of this, the drive that would give the Vikings their first lead of the afternoon, and, if things went according to plan, the first fourth-quarter comeback win of Kirk Cousins’ tenure with this team.

Shamar Stephen, the run-stuffing defensive tackle, smacked Alexander Mattison on the helmet, an attaboy for a job well done. Mattison had just run through multiple Packers defenders for 14 yards, the latest successful run in a string of them on this drive. Seven of the eight plays were rushes, albeit one was a Cousins scramble, and the Vikings felt they had the Packers on their heels.

This is what Mike Zimmer has sought for his team all offseason as he’s emphasized a balanced offensive attack that could wear teams down with a rushing game. Dalvin Cook was already well over 100 yards with a dizzying pace that had Packers linebackers turned around. Mattison had bulldozed over a few of them.

It hadn’t been a perfect game by this point with five minutes and 17 seconds remaining. They trailed 21-16 for a reason, including early defensive struggles and some poor kicking. But the Vikings were in control. It seemed they were about to deliver an emphatic message to the bully of their division, at the historic home of the Packers no less.

Zimmer said the string of running plays had the Packers scrambling. They were tired, he thought, and lining up wrong. So he had no problem with offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski trying to catch the Packers off guard. He called a play action, one of Cousins’ strengths, that would allow him to roll out, something the team hopes to do more of this season. It was the type of play the Vikings drew up this offseason to try to take advantage of what Cousins does best, a change in their philosophy to bring out the best in their quarterback.

It was first-and-goal, so they figured they could take a chance and get aggressive. When Cousins rolled right, he had two options, but neither looked great. Adam Thielen was pretty well covered in the flat. Stefon Diggs was streaking toward the back corner of the end zone, but Packers cornerback Kevin King was just behind him and another defender was in the area.

Quarterbacks are taught on “Day 1,” what to do in these situations, Cousins said. Throw the ball away. Move on to second down. Not every play needs to end perfectly. Three more awaited with the Vikings in four-down territory.

Instead, Cousins rolled right and continued to drift farther from the pylon he was throwing to. By the time he released the ball, he was 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, eventually heaving a rainbow of a throw off his back foot.

Green Bay Packers ✔ @packers 

Picked off by @King_kevvoo!#MINvsGB | #GoPackGo

Embedded video 1,442 3:05 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 401 people are talking about this The pass, of course, was intercepted by King. The Packers won 21-16, thwarting the comeback that seemed likely to define the early part of the Vikings season, the one that could change the narrative about this can’t-get-over-the- hump team.

Instead, the fear that has permeated through this organization remains. What if Cousins just isn’t good enough? What if, even though they have a good defense and a good running game and two great wide receivers, it’s all not enough for the quarterback they gave $84 million guaranteed?

The Vikings weren’t perfect on Sunday against the Packers. But a decent day from their quarterback wins them that game. Sure, the defense shouldn’t spot the opposition a 21-0 lead. But they were sensational after that. Sure, the kicking game botched a field goal and an extra point. But the Vikings still had the ball 8 yards from a fourth-quarter lead.

“Today he made a couple mistakes,” Zimmer said, asked after this loss whether he can win a Super Bowl with Cousins. “But the guy made some great throws as well (like) the (touchdown) throw to Diggs. He’s got all the talent and we just need to continue to coach him the way we want him to play.”

It must be at least somewhat concerning that the solution is coaching up a 31-year-old with 80 career games played in this league.

There were some observers who questioned the play call in the first place with a gripe that went something like this: With the running game cruising, why give up on it? Why not give the ball to Cook three times and trust that will get it into the end zone? It’s a fair thought, but so is this counter: Shouldn’t you be able to trust your expensive, veteran quarterback enough to throw the ball away if the play isn’t there? Then you can go back to the running game if you weren’t able to catch the defense off guard?

“It’s uncharacteristic of me,” Cousins said. “I can’t do it. What I was thinking was, give Diggs a chance, kind of an ours-or-nobody thing. It wasn’t nobody’s. (King) went and made a play. You just can’t do that.”

Cousins wore a brown tie and downtrodden face after the loss, claiming responsibility for a poor throw and poor game on the whole. He finished with 14 completions on 32 attempts for 230 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two fumbles.

Even recognizing that it wasn’t Cousins’ best day, it was still a maddening performance. On a warm Sunday in Green Bay, the Vikings showed this can be a very good team. The defense can stifle a future Hall of Famer. The Packers didn’t have a drive pick up more than two first downs on their final 11 possessions and didn’t score on any of them. And the running game showed that it can, indeed, be relied on to carry the offense. Cook got the team back into the game with a 75-yard touchdown and finished with a somehow-under-the-radar 191 yards of offense on 23 touches. On this day, all it would’ve taken was a decent day by the quarterback to get a win.

“I’m proud of the way my teammates fought and kept fighting, but I’m very disappointed in my performance today,” Cousins said. “It just wasn’t good enough. … Walking away, I didn’t feel like I did my part today and I didn’t feel like I gave our team the chance it needed from my role. That’s very, very frustrating. Very disappointing. I’ll stand up here and take ownership of that. I had a lot of plays that did not get made, that got left out there.”

It’s too early still to think about how the Vikings will handle the future of this position that has had so much turnover — this only the second game of the second year of Cousins’ three-year deal. It did, though, emphasize the question that has lingered over Cousins’ tenure in Minnesota. What if he’s still not enough?

The Vikings didn’t bring Cousins to Minnesota to make the plays that have been accustomed of their Sunday counterpart, Aaron Rodgers. Instead, they sought a quarterback who could make the plays in front of him, not force anything. A quarterback who could take advantage of their great receivers and great running back and great defense.

One who wouldn’t make the kind of mistakes that cost games. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/16/19

Questionable calls, QB woes plague Vikings in loss at Green Bay

By Courtney Cronin

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A disastrous start, a game-changing offensive pass interference call, a bone-headed penalty by a star wide receiver and self-inflicted wounds on offense cost the Minnesota Vikings their first road victory of the season in a 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was tremendous, carrying 20 times for 154 yards and a touchdown (along with 37 yards receiving), but his breakout day was spoiled on an afternoon when the rest of the Vikings' offense couldn’t come through to support its star running back.

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Minnesota’s defense certainly shares in some of the blame for starting things off on the wrong foot, giving up 21 unanswered points early on scoring drives of 75, 68 and 33 yards. While the adjustments this unit made denied Green Bay any drives longer than 22 yards (minus the final drive of the game) from there on out, the offense couldn’t make the same fix.

Pivotal play: This game will be remembered for three questionable offensive pass interference calls against the Vikings, none more controversial than the penalty enforced at the end of the first half that reversed Stefon Diggs' 3- yard touchdown. Officials believed Cook blocked Packers safety Darnell Savage in the end zone, allowing Diggs to be wide open on a crossing route while receiving a short pass from Kirk Cousins. “In Green Bay, the ruling on the field of a touchdown was overturned due to the fact that No. 33 (Cook), clear and obvious visual evidence that he blocks down field prior to the ball being touched,” NFL vice president of officiating Al Riveron said in an explanation put out on Twitter.

It’s one thing if OPI had been called during the play, but the fact that it was reversed on replay -- which requires clear and obvious evidence of a mistake -- puts the NFL’s new PI rule under fire. Minnesota was forced to settle for a 31- yard field goal after play resumed and went into halftime trailing 21-10 instead of possibly cutting the Packers' lead to seven.

Dalvin Cook topped 100 yards rushing for a second straight week, going for 154 on 20 carries against the Packers on Sunday. Dan Powers/USA TODAY Sports QB breakdown: Cousins looked abysmal for most of Sunday’s game, completing 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and a 52.9 passer rating. By the second quarter, the QB had two fumbles (one lost) and an interception (he would finish with two). These big games in which Cousins has failed to come through in critical moments is the criticism that has followed him throughout his career. That's a trend Minnesota hopes he’ll be able to buck this season. The instances in which Cousins made miracle plays, such as completing a 61-yard pass to Chad Beebe while getting tackled from behind and dropping a 45-yard bomb into Diggs’ bread basket for a touchdown in the third quarter, were spoiled by moments in which he failed to deliver game-changing drives.

Diggs stretched out on an overthrown ball on third-and-7 early in the fourth quarter that would have put Minnesota within striking distance of taking the lead. But what sealed Cousins’ terrible outing was on the Vikings' second to last drive. After Alexander Mattison got Minnesota down to the 8-yard line, Cousins felt pressure from Tyler Lancaster, leading him to heave a ball into double coverage in the corner of the end zone instead of throw it away. The ball was picked off by Packers cornerback Kevin King, and the Vikings never had another chance to score. The decision making on that throw alone (along with the playcalling on first down) comes into question.

ADVERTISEMENT play 0:22 Cook bursts through for 75-yard TDDalvin Cook runs through the hole, evades a tackler and goes 75 yards for a Vikings touchdown. Silver lining: Minnesota is in a precarious spot with its cornerback depth after injuries forced coach Mike Zimmer to turn to his reserves. The Vikings' secondary was exposed most noticeably in the first half, when Davante Adams was left matched up with Jayron Kearse in the slot (Adams finished with seven catches for 106 yards) while cornerback Xavier Rhodes allowed a handful of big gains shadowing the Packers’ No. 1 receiver. CBs Mackensie Alexander (elbow) and Mike Hughes missed Sunday’s game, but Hughes appears to be inching closer to his return after completing his first full practice on Friday and going through warm-ups in Green Bay. The Vikings really need to be at full strength on the back end against elite quarterbacks such as Rodgers, who they’ll face again in late December.

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/16/19

QB Cousins on late INT vs. GB: 'No justification'

By Courtney Cronin

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A sullen Kirk Cousins took full responsibility for the costly interception he threw in the fourth quarter of a 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers that stunted the Minnesota Vikings' chances of taking a late-game lead at Lambeau Field.

"There's no justification," Cousins said. "It was unacceptable, it put my team in a terrible position. We had worked so hard to get down there, had a great chance to take the lead, potentially win the game. I just took it out of our hands by making that throw."

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Trailing by five in a game in which costly penalties and shaky quarterback play plagued the offense throughout, Minnesota worked its way down to Green Bay's 8-yard line on a drive that featured seven runs, including a 6-yard scramble by the QB. With 5 minutes, 17 seconds to play, the Vikings put the game in Cousins' hands, and the quarterback made an ill-advised throw on first down, launching a deep ball into double coverage in the corner of the end zone.

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Questionable calls, quarterback woes plague Vikings in loss at Green Bay The pass was intended to be a tight-window throw to Stefon Diggs. Instead, Packers cornerback Kevin King got in front of the Vikings wide receiver, who was running parallel to the back line of the end zone, and picked off Cousins' pass.

"You just can't do that," Cousins said. "It happened last week in our game, against us, and we talked about it all week how you can't do that. It's uncharacteristic of me. I can't do it. What I was thinking was, give Diggs a chance, kind of an 'ours or nobody's' thing. It wasn't nobody's, he [King] went and made a play. You just can't do that."

With Green Bay nose tackle Tyler Lancaster barreling down on the QB, Cousins should have opted to throw the ball out of bounds. There was a chance, the quarterback said reflecting on his decision to make that throw, that if Diggs didn't come up with the ball, it would have sailed out of the back of the end zone, but the interception proved to ultimately be the defining moment of the loss.

"If you're going to throw it that way, you can't throw it," Cousins said. "That's the kind of stuff you say is like Day 1, you can't do that."

Dalvin Cook rushed 20 times Sunday for 154 yards and a touchdown, including a 75-yard run that got the Vikings within two scores in the second quarter, and the team finished with 198 yards on the ground. Despite how well Minnesota was running the ball on the Vikings' second-to-last drive, offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski opted to call a pass play.

The decision to not run on first down was addressed postgame, but ultimately Cousins pushed the notion aside that playcalling was the underlying issue.

"That's a good question," coach Mike Zimmer said about the Vikings' playcall. "We thought we had them tired, they were having trouble getting lined up and we thought we'd catch them."

Added Cousins: "Certainly you say that on the sideline afterward. Everybody said, 'Aw, we should've run it.' But I shouldn't have put our coordinator in that position. I should throw the ball away and move to the next down. And you're right. We had run the ball well and I guess that's a huge positive when I look at the first two weeks of the season, a huge improvement from last year is we're running the football well. You run in this league -- when you do that you can win games week in and week out."

Cousins completed 14 of his 32 pass attempts for 230 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions to finish with a 52.9 passer rating. The quarterback came up empty on all three trips Minnesota made into the red zone, including his fourth-quarter interception. Cousins is now 0-for-4 in the red zone this season.

"It was unacceptable, it put my team in a terrible position," Kirk Cousins said of his late interception against the Packers. "I just took it out of our hands by making that throw." Dylan Buell/Getty Images The QB's outing in Green Bay was defined by a handful of moments at opposite ends of the spectrum; plays like the 61-yard pass he made to Chad Beebe while being tackled from behind and a perfectly placed deep ball that Diggs turned into a 45-yard touchdown were soured by a handful of other mistakes Cousins shouldered responsibility for.

By the second quarter, Cousins had two fumbles, one of which he lost, and had thrown his first of two interceptions by targeting Diggs over the middle of the field on third down with four defenders around him.

"It changes the flow of the game," Cousins said. "Those are the ones you are really frustrated about when you're walking to the sideline."

Zimmer was not willing to fault Cousins for the entirety of what played out in Sunday's loss and chose to consider both the good and bad moments, when he was asked why he remains confident that Cousins is the right QB to lead this team.

"Today he made a couple mistakes, but the guy made some great throws as well -- the throw to Diggs," Zimmer said. "He's got all the talent, and we just need to continue to coach him the way we want to play."

Cousins' game-changing interception wasn't the only play that cost the Vikings their first road win of the season. Ahead of halftime, Cook was flagged for offensive pass interference after Diggs' scored on a 3-yard touchdown. On the play, officials believed Cook blocked Packers safety Darnell Savage in the end zone, allowing Diggs to be wide open on a crossing route while receiving a short pass from Cousins.

The penalty was not called during the play, but instead after the touchdown. The NFL requires clear and obvious evidence of a mistake in order to reverse a call made on replay, which put the new pass interference rule under fire.

Following the game, NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron explained why the officials felt they had enough evidence to nullify Diggs' TD.

"Every time, by rule, there's a score or turnover, here in New York we automatically take a look at all aspects of the play, which this year includes obvious visual evidence that No. 33 [Cook] hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air," Riveron said. "Therefore, we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards." PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/16/19

Packers ride Rodgers' hot start to 21-16 win over Vikings

By Keith Jenkins

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- All that mattered to Aaron Rodgers on Sunday was that the Packers won.

That's it.

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Rodgers threw two early touchdowns and Green Bay held on for a 21-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

"The biggest thing is that we're 2-0," he said. "I know we owe a lot of that to our defense and (defensive coordinator) Mike Pettine and his staff and those guys for being opportunistic and making plays when they had to. But I think there's still a lot of great potential in this offense."

On a day when the Packers honored late Hall of Famer Bart Starr at halftime, Rodgers put on quite a show -- particularly early. Rodgers completed nine of his first 10 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and had a perfect 158.3 rating through the first quarter. He finished 22 of 34 for 209 yards.

Rodgers and new coach Matt LaFleur experimented with Rodgers wearing a playcall wristband in the hope that it would speed up the play-calling process and get the offense out of the huddle quicker.

"Yeah, this is probably the wordiest offense I've been in since Cal," said Rodgers, who played college ball at California after transferring from Butte Community College. "I think it just helps with communication. He doesn't have to say 12 syllables to me, and then I say 12 syllables in the huddle. It helps speed things up a little bit. But we didn't use it a whole lot. We only used it about five or six times."

After scoring on each of its first three possessions, Green Bay's offense failed to muster another point. But the hot start was enough to win.

The Packers remained unbeaten under LaFleur after opening the NFL's 100th season with a victory at rival Chicago. They also beat the Vikings (1-1) for the fifth time in the past seven games at Lambeau Field.

Minnesota's Dalvin Cook had a career-high 154 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. It was the third-year pro's second consecutive game with over 100 yards rushing. Cook also had 37 yards receiving in the loss.

"We're just trying to find our rhythm," Cook said. "It was a hostile environment. We knew what we were coming into. Tried to prepare as well as we could. You can never replicate a game. Just trying to find our rhythm. We found it, but they jumped on us pretty early."

After throwing the ball just 10 times in the opener against Atlanta, Kirk Cousins finished 14 of 32 with 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Cousins was picked off by Kevin King in the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

"You just can't do that, can't do that," Cousins said of the interception. "It happened last week in our game against us. We talked about it all week, you just can't do that. It's uncharacteristic of me."

The Vikings are 5-2-1 in last their eight meetings against Green Bay.

Rodgers and Davante Adams connected on a 39-yard completion on the Packers' first offensive play. Rodgers found running back Jamaal Williams for a 15-yard touchdown to cap a four-play, 75-yard drive.

Adams finished with 106 yards on nine catches.

"We started off a lot faster," Adams said. "That's definitely what we were after this week."

It took Green Bay's offense all of 12 minutes to score more points (14) than it did in the season opener at Chicago (10).

After a missed field goal by Minnesota, receiver Geronimo Allison, who did not see a single pass against the Bears, gave the Packers a two-score advantage on a 12-yard strike from Rodgers.

Green Bay took over at the Vikings 33 after defensive lineman Kenny Clark sacked Cousins, forcing a fumble. Dean Lowry recovered the loose ball.

The Packers took a commanding 21-0 lead with 2 minutes to play in the first half on 2-yard run by Aaron Jones.

"We came out hot," said Jones, who finished with 116 yards on 23 carries. "We thought we could do no wrong. We've just got to continue to work at it because the fourth drive, fifth drive, sixth drive, we want points on those as well."

After rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a win last week against the Falcons, Cook broke out for a 75-yard score following a missed tackle by rookie safety Darnell Savage.

"Eventually one of us was going to make a play to get this game rolling, and it was just me that made a play," Cook said. "Whatever to get a team rolling, to get this thing going, that was the play to do it."

Stefan Diggs scored the Vikings' other touchdown with a 45-yard grab with 9:12 to play in the third.

"Disappointing loss today," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "We fought hard, but we didn't play well enough to win. We had some dumb penalties. ... The interception at the end of the ballgame hurt."

Minnesota had eight penalties for 100 yards.

INJURIES

Packers: S Raven Greene was carted off the field with an ankle injury following the first play of the second half. He did not return.

STARR CELEBRATION

The Packers honored Starr during a celebration that included a video tribute, words from Starr's wife, Cherry, and an appearance by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Starr, who died in May at 85, was the MVP of the first two Super Bowls and won the league MVP award in 1966 with the Packers. Starr has the highest postseason passer rating (104.8) of any QB in NFL history and a postseason record of 9-1. Starr was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Packers Hall of Fame in 1977.

NEXT UP

Vikings: Host Raiders on Sept. 22.

Packers: Host Broncos on Sept. 22. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/16/19

Watch: Vikings' Dalvin Cook races 75 yards for TD

By Courtney Cronin

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Just as things were teetering on the edge of disaster, running back Dalvin Cook delivered a home-run play to spark life into the Minnesota Vikings.

Cook gashed the Green Bay Packers' defense on a 75-yard run to the house to make it a two-possession game at Lambeau Field. Cook had a maximum speed of 20.39 miles an hour, according to NFL NextGen stats.

On the second play of a drive that began at 14:16, Cook found a hole that opened as most of the offensive line slid to its left. He cut up the field, whizzing past safety Darnell Savage and leaving three other Packers defenders in his dust as he ran down the Vikings sideline into the end zone. The touchdown put Cook at 104 yards from scrimmage on Sunday, the fourth of five games he surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage since Kevin Stefanski took over playcalling duties last December.

PUBLICATION: CBS Sports DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings at Packers score, takeaways: How Green Bay nearly blew a 21-0 lead but escaped with a win

By Bryan DeArdo

Why the Packers won Green Bay's three touchdowns on their first three possessions gave the Packers what turned out to be an insurmountable lead.

After scoring just 10 points against the Bears in Week 1, Green Bay's offense scored on their first three possessions. Aaron Rodgers was on fire early, completing nine of his first 10 attempts that included touchdown passes to Jamaal Williams and Geronimo Allison.

Green Bay Packers ✔ @packers Another #Packers TOUCHDOWN! @AaronRodgers12 ➡️ @813Geronimo  #MINvsGB | #GoPackGo

Embedded video 1,954 12:29 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 650 people are talking about this Green Bay won despite their offense failing to score on their final 11 possessions. Rodgers finished the game with 209 yards on 22-of-34 passing. Aaron Jones rushed for 116 yards on 23 carries, while Davante Adams, who caught a 39-yard pass on the first play of the game, caught seven of nine targets for 106 yards.

The Packers also wouldn't have won if not for the play of running back Aaron Jones, who gained 116 yards and a score on 23 carries.

PAID CONTENT BY XFINITY Enjoy smarter TV with voice, streaming Xfinity xFi delivers fast and reliable coverage for every room in the house. Why the Vikings lost Kirk Cousins' erratic play proved to be too much for Minnesota to overcome. After a slow start that included a turnover that led to one of Green Bay's early scores, Cousins -- who completed just 14 of his 32 attempts for 230 yards with a score and two picks -- got things going with a 61-yard completion to Chad Beebe on the Vikings' last drive of the first half. Green Bay's defense was able to hold in the red zone, however, with Minnesota settling for a 31-yard field goal that trimmed their deficit to 11 points heading into halftime.

Minnesota continued their comeback in the third quarter. Following a fumble by Rodgers, Cousins lofted a perfectly thrown pass that Stefon Diggs pulled down for a 45-yard score with just over nine minutes remaining in the quarter.

Turning point After driving inside Green Bay's 10-yard-line with just over five minutes remaining, Cousins was picked off by Packers cornerback Kevin King, ending Minnesota's best chance to take the lead. The Vikings went three and out on their next possession.

NFL ✔ @NFL Kevin King will take that! @King_kevvoo #GoPackGo #MINvsGB

 : FOX  : NFL app // Yahoo Sports app Watch on mobile: http://on.nfl.com/ZocaHK

Embedded video 804 3:12 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 288 people are talking about this Play of the game While it was in a losing effort, Dalvin Cook's 75-yard bust through the teeth of the Packers' defense gave the Vikings the score it desperately needed after falling behind 21-0. Cook finished with 154 yards on 20 carries.

Minnesota Vikings ✔ @Vikings There's fast.

And then there is @DalvinCook fast.#Skol

Embedded video 2,998 12:48 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 641 people are talking about this Quotable "We put them in a couple tough spots the last two weeks. When we've been at our best over the years on defense, we've been a very opportunistic turnover-machine type of defense, and that's shaping up for sure that way with those guys." -- Aaron Rodgers on Green Bay's defense, via the team's official website.

Defensive MVPs The game's defense standouts included Green Bay linebacker Blake Martinez and Minnesota defensive end Danielle Hunter. Martinez led both teams with 13 tackles, while Hunter led the Vikings with nine tackles while also recording one of the Vikings' two sacks of Rodgers.

Notable moment The Packers celebrated legendary quarterback Bart Starr at halftime. Starr, a Hall of Fame quarterback who led Green Bay to five world titles during the 1960s that included wins in Super Bowls I and II, passed away in May at the age of 85. Brett Favre, a fellow former Packers Hall of Fame quarterback, stood with Starr's widow, Cherry, during Green Bay's halftime tribute to Starr, who also served as the Packers' head coach from 1975-83.

Up next The Vikings will head home to square off with the Raiders in Week 3. The Packers also have a home matchup on tap with the Broncos.

PUBLICATION: USA Today DATE: 9/16/19

Cook sets career rushing high in Vikings' loss to Packers

By Andrew Seligman

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Dalvin Cook gave the Minnesota Vikings hope. He just couldn't quite carry them past Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Cook ran for a career-high 154 yards and a long a touchdown to help the Vikings make it close after they looked as though they were going to get blown out in a 21-16 loss Sunday.

"It was just keep fighting," he said. "That's a tough team we've got. We've got some fighters. Smart, physical players and that's the type of locker room we've got. We just wanted to keep fighting, and I think as long as the scoreboard says some time on it, we think we've got a chance to win the football game."

It looked as if they had no chance, trailing 21-0 thanks to two touchdown throws by Rodgers in the first quarter and a 2-yard run by Aaron Jones two plays into the second after Kirk Cousins lost a fumble on a sack in Vikings territory.

But Minnesota stuck with the ground game despite the big deficit. And Cook helped make things at least interesting after combining to run for just 67 yards in two games against Green Bay last year.

On the second play from scrimmage after Jones scored, he broke off a 75-yard touchdown that was the longest run of his career. It was also the second-longest ever by a Minnesota player against the Packers.

Cook burst through a hole in the middle and avoided a lunging Darnell Savage near midfield as he turned toward the right side on the way to the end zone.

"The O-line gave me a crease on the backside," he said. "I just hit it with all I had. It was just one of those plays, I was close to being hit a couple of times today. That was the time that I had to take full advantage of it right there."

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Delivery: Mon - Fri Your Email The Vikings are banking on big things from Cook in his third season after injuries limited him to 15 games through his first two. His emergence would give them a better run-pass balance and provide a big lift coming off a disappointing year.

The Vikings thought they had a Super Bowl contender in 2018 after signing Cousins, only to miss the playoffs at 8-7- 1.

It was no surprise they made some changes in the offseason, with Kevin Stefanski taking over as offensive coordinator and bringing in former Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak as an offensive adviser. They also made some adjustments on the line.

The Vikings are trying to make Cook a key weapon to go with one of the best receiving tandems in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.

"We knew he was an explosive back, and you give him any kind of space, if one guy messes up, he's going to see the crease, he's going to see the gap opening, and he's going to cut it back and make a play," Packers nose tackle Kenny Clark said. "You saw a little bit of that today."

Cook carried 20 times against Green Bay after running for 111 yards in a season-opening win over Atlanta. That gave him back-to-back games with 100 or more for the first time in his career and four in all.

"Having a back like that definitely makes it easier up front," guard Dakota Dozier said. "If you can get your guy for just a split second, he can get through the hole, make some big plays. I definitely love blocking for him."

The Vikings stuck with the run on a day when Cousins was off target — 14 of 32 with 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

They also committed eight penalties for 100 yards, including an offensive interference call on Cook late in the half that wiped out a 3-yard touchdown pass to Diggs. Minnesota settled for a field goal.

"I feel great," Cook said. "There's still a lot of stuff we can improve on. There's still a lot of stuff we are going to improve on. We've just got to get better each and every week. I think we are. This team right here is all about work. That's all we want to do."

PUBLICATION: NFL.com DATE: 9/16/19

What we learned from Sunday's Week 2 games

By Around the NFL Staff

Another Patriots blowout. Second wins for San Francisco and Seattle. A crazy finish at Mile High! Sunday afternoon featured a couple mismatches and a slew of scintillating showdowns.

Here is what we've learned so far from Sunday's games:

Atlanta Falcons 24, Philadephia Eagles 20

1. The league's deepest roster was surely tested in Atlanta on Sunday night. Hard hitting on both sides turned Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a triage scene, with Philly taking on most of the casualties. Wentz was forced to play most of the game without DeSean Jackson (groin) and Alshon Jeffery (calf), who combined to catch nearly half of the QB's completions in Week 1, and Dallas Goedert, Corey Clement and Timmy Jernigan also spent good time on the sideline. The Philly QB was apparently injured, as well, playing with his ribs, taking a trip to the blue medical tent to be tested for a concussion and sitting out a handful of snaps in favor of Josh McCown in the first half. Wentz went into halftime with a 6.2 passer rating, reflective of his missed passes and risky throws-turned-interceptions. But the 2017 would-be MVP settled in the second half, making use of whoever was left (Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins instead of the rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside). Wentz bounced back to lead two touchdown drives in the last two quarters, including a 13-yard march with four third-down conversions at his hand, and almost led a third.

Down four under two minutes after Atlanta won back the lead, Wentz launched a prayer 43 yards down the middle of the field on fourth down into the waiting arms of Agholor, who had just dropped a gimme deep ball in stride. It was a miraculous, impossible play out of step with the game's momentum, one that made you feel Wentz and Philly were destined at the end of this sloppy Sunday night to come away 2-0. But it wasn't to be. Wentz, faced with a fourth-and- 8 in the red zone, threw a seven-yard pass to Ertz, and the tight end, corralled by Atlanta's aggressive secondary, couldn't extend it past the marker. Given the Eagles' slew of injuries and poor first-half play, that they were even in that position late in the game was a victory in itself. But in the standings, it's still a loss, one that keeps the Birds (1-1) a game behind the Cowboys in the NFC East.

2. On an off night for Matt Ryan, the Falcons quarterback looked best when he got the ball into the hands of his playmakers, as he always has. For the bulk of the night, Calvin Ridley was Ryan's security blanket, the second-year game breaker leading Atlanta on the night with eight catches. His 105 yards and one score would've paced the Falcons, as well, had they lost. But then fourth-and-3 happened. Late in the final frame, Atlanta called on Ryan, who had thrown three picks already, to throw a quick screen to Julio Jones, his longtime battery mate, now paid in full. Put the ball in Jones' hands, not Ryan's. Julio caught the pass and, with the help of the pancake of all pancakes by left tackle Jake Matthews on Avonte Maddox, sprinted upfield and into the end zone for the go-ahead, game-winning 54 - yard touchdown. It was Julio's fifth grab and his second touchdown, and it was a reminder of the firepower the Falcons (1-1) possess, a reminder sorely needed after being nearly shut out in Minnesota last week.

3. Speaking of firepower, there was none in either of these backfields. For the second straight week, both Philadelphia and Atlanta's ball-carriers struggled to find much of a footing and provide balance to their offenses lacking it. Without Tevin Coleman stealing some of his snaps, Devonta Freeman is running like an average back, not one playing on a five-year extension. Through two games, Freeman has racked up just 41 yards on 19 carries -- to be fair, those outings came against two of the NFC's most gifted fronts. For burst out of the backfield, Atlanta is better off handing it to Ito Smith. Philly's refurbished RB tandem is nothing to write home about. Neither Miles Sanders nor Jordan Howard helped out a struggling Wentz on Sunday evening, the two combining for 46 yards on 18 carries. On an otherwise flawless roster, Philly's backfield prowess is still lacking despite it being a glaring flaw during last year's campaign.

-- Jeremy Bergman

Chicago Bears 16, Denver Broncos 14

1. In a matchup dominated by field position and field goals, it's only fitting that beleaguered Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro nailed a 53-yard attempt to cap off a wacky sequence in the final minute. Joe Flacco converted a pair of fourth downs to set up a 7-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders, bringing the Broncos within one point with just over half a minute remaining. Denver decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion, only to switch gears when Flacco was called for delay of game. A Buster Skrine offsides penalty on the PAT attempt put the ball back in the hands of Flacco, who dialed Sanders' number again for the two-point conversion and a 14-13 lead. That left just 31 seconds on the clock for Mitchell Trubisky, who benefitted from a questionable roughing the passer penalty on Bradley Chubb to keep the improbable comeback alive. Faced with fourth-and-15 a few plays later, Trubisky danced in the pocket, found Allen Robinson wide open over the middle and called timeout with just a second left to set up Pineiro's heroics.

2. Flacco and Sanders deserved a better fate. The Broncos (0-2) recorded 27 first downs versus the vaunted Bears defense, matching the number amassed by the Patriots and 49ers in their blowout victories on Sunday. A series of holding penalties on an offensive line tasked with blocking Bears superstar Khalil Mack sabotaged Flacco's attack over and over again, thwarting Denver's scoring opportunities. As well as Flacco has moved the chains between the twenties, it's fair to question his effectiveness in the condensed area of the red zone through two games.

3. The Bears finally scored their first touchdown of the season when Nagy called nine straight runs, including a 42- yard Cordarrelle Patterson scamper that set up rookie David Montgomery's diving effort. Montgomery took control of Chicago's backfield on a day when the game plan seemed determined not to place too much responsibility on Trubisky's shoulders versus a stellar defense in an unfriendly environment. Even with the game-winning drive -- aided by judgment calls from the officials -- Trubisky will be back under the microscope for next week's game at Washington.

-- Chris Wesseling

Houston Texans 13, Jacksonville Jaguars 12

1. Houston almost coughed up another late lead for the second straight week to open the season. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew drove the Jacksonville offense down the field with chunk throws and heady big runs culminating in a touchdown toss to D.J. Chark with 30 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 13-12. Jags coach Doug Marrone elected to go for two points and a potential win. Leonard Fournette, however, was stuffed inches before the goal line, allowing the Texans (1-1) to escape without another late collapse. Houston breathed a sigh of relief but can't be thrilled by the limp defensive effort -- including more off coverage -- to close out the tilt.

2. Deshaun Watson was discombobulated behind a faltering offensive line against a Jags D that was missing star pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Watson was sacked four times Sunday and couldn't find the range deep throughout the tilt -- completing just two of 10 passes of 15-plus air-yards, per Next Gen Stats. The matchup between DeAndre Hopkins and Jalen Ramsey went mostly to the Jags corner, who held Nuk (five catches on eight targets for 40 yards) to short gains. Hopkins did much of his damage when Ramsey -- who blew up at the coaching staff on the sideline in the first half -- was in zone coverage. With Hopkins neutralized, Watson's passing game wilted. The Texans leaned on Carlos Hyde (90 yards) who out-carried Duke Johnson 20 to 6. Holding on for the win brings a modicum of relief, but the Texans need more when Nuk is negated as he was for the most part by Ramsey Sunday.

3. Minshew didn't look flustered in his first career start. The sixth-round pick got swarmed at times by the Texans front, getting sacked four times (twice by Whitney Mercilus) and fumbling thrice (losing one). The third fumble led to the Texans' only touchdown of the game. Minshew was solid when getting the ball out of his hands quickly and displayed plenty of touch, arm strength and accuracy to complete several long sideline throws. The rookie displayed positive running ability, leading the Jags (0-2) with 56 rushing yards on six carries, including big gains of 21 and 18 yards. After getting swarmed for three quarters, the man with the golden mustache showed moxie at the end leading to the final-minute touchdown, taking advantage of a loose Texans D. Minshew (23-of-33, 213 yards, TD) was scuttled behind a struggling offensive line and at times held the ball too long. But the rookie showed he can be a solid stand-in for Nick Foles if he gets more help from Fournette and company moving forward.

-- Kevin Patra

Buffalo Bills 28, New York Giants 14

1. Tasked with playing their second straight tilt at MetLife Stadium, the Bills (2-0) stayed in the same hotel -- with players lodged in the very same rooms -- to mimic their lead-up to last week's 17-16 comeback win over the Jets. The OCD/superstitious approach worked, with Buffalo unfurling a clean and effective offensive outing over Big Blue. Josh Allen caught heat for his four turnovers in Week 1, but the Bills second-year signal-caller authored a clean, productive game that saw him lead four touchdown drives and throw for 253 yards at a healthy 8.4 yards per toss. Rookie runner Devin Singletary helped with a dazzling 14-yard scoring dash -- more of him please -- while old-as- the-hills-but-still-wily Frank Gore plowed for 70 yards at 3.9 yards per carry. Third-year wideout Isaiah McKenzie helped with a 14-yard touchdown grab on a drive that saw trusty possession man Cole Beasley slice up New York with a 51-yard catch-and-run.

2. Same old tune for the wandering G-Men: Reminding us of last week's start against Dallas, New York barreled down the field on their opening drive, with electrifying runner Saquon Barkley (18/107/1) rampaging through Buffalo's defense for 55 yards with a 27-yard touchdown burst. The Giants (0-2) appeared entirely lost from there, with Eli Manning throwing for zero yards over the first four marches and finishing with just 202 yards at 4.8 yards per lob with a pair of picks. New York is struggling in a way all of America saw coming from 1,000 miles away: Can they surprise anyone after the opening drive? Tons of Barkley; Eli dragging the team down; a wanting, soft defense offering no help; and a playbook airmailed from 1948. This problem-laden offense looked even worse against a well-coached, smothering Buffalo defense that all but destroyed New York's two other squads over the first two weeks of the season. The Bills are a playoff team if the defense continues to operate this way while Allen continues to grow under center.

3. Describing New York's afternoon in a nutshell: Down 21-7 before the half, New York caught a break when T.J. Jones returned a punt 60 yards to Buffalo's 33-yard line. Two plays later, Manning's pass was batted by sensational Bills rookie Ed Oliver and picked off by Trent Murphy. Jones subsequently lifted an injury-ravaged receiver group with a third-quarter score off a dig route that brought New York within 21-14 of the Bills. Too little, too late, though, with Buffalo ending the game with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a Gore score. It's impossible to figure out how this Giants roster crawls its way to six wins. The real question is whether Pat Shurmur owns the requisite power to permanently bench his ancient starter in favor of rookie Daniel Jones. If not, the embattled Giants coach feels like a scapegoat-in-the-making for a team as lost as any league-wide.

-- Marc Sessler

Dallas Cowboys 31, Washington Redskins 21

1. With precocious play-caller Kellen Moore keeping another defense guessing, the Cowboys (2-0) topped the 30- point mark for the second straight week. After a sluggish first quarter, Dallas receivers roamed through prairie land in Washington's injury-ravaged secondary, as Moore continues to scheme his arsenal of playmakers into open spaces. While a rejuvenated Randall Cobb and a transformed Michael Gallup are making Dak Prescott's job easier this season, it was former Jets second-round pick Devin Smith leading the way with 74 yards receiving, including a 51- yard touchdown bomb against veteran cornerback Josh Norman. Ezekiel Elliott salted the game away with a 27-yard jaunt on third-and-5, pushing him over the 100-yard mark on the day. One of the NFL's scariest offenses this September, the Cowboys have expanded on the predictable Elliott-centric approach, torturing opponents with a well- rounded pick-your-poison attack.

2. Considering the strength of Dallas' roster and the beautiful mind of Moore, Prescott has a prime opportunity for a legitimate run at MVP honors in a contract year. After an early interception on an errant pass that ricocheted off Cobb's hands, Prescott completed 13 of his next 15 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns while the Cowboys ran away from the less talented Redskins (0-2). Bolstering his passing numbers, Prescott added 69 yards on the ground, the second-highest rushing total of his career. Through two weeks under Moore, a pinpoint Prescott has completed an astonishing 51 of 62 attempts (82.3 percent) for 674 yards (10.9 YPA), seven touchdowns, one interception and a 142.9 pass rating versus a pair of suspect secondaries. The downtrodden Dolphins are next on the schedule for Dallas.

3. Redskins rookie Terry McLaurin would have topped 200 yards in his NFL debut last week had Case Keenum not overthrown him on a potential 73-yard score in the second half. He faced a much stiffer test this time around, with Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones in his hip pocket all afternoon. McLaurin finally shook free for a 27-yard gain just past Jones' outstretched fingertips, igniting a 69-yard second-half performance that included a 1-yard touchdown late in the festivities. McLaurin turned so many heads in training camp, coach Jay Gruden relayed to FOX broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis, that the Redskins were forced to pull him off special teams even though the former Ohio State star was drafted with that skill-set in mind. It didn't take long for Gruden to realize that his third- round pick was his No. 1 receiver.

-- Chris Wesseling

New England Patriots 43, Miami Dolphins 0

1. All eyes were on Antonio Brown as he made his Patriots debut Sunday amid an NFL investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations made against the receiver in a civil lawsuit last week. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported during NFL GameDayMorning that the Patriots' game plan was to involve A.B. in the offense early against the Dolphins (0-2), and that's exactly what happened. Brown was on the field for the second play of the game and immediately snagged an 18-yard catch. Brown had three catches for 36 yards on the Pats' opening TD drive, and then looked like his vintage self when he corralled a perfect back-shoulder throw from Tom Brady for a 20-yard TD in the second quarter. Brown and Brady did seem to struggle at times to be on the same page, but that will be solved with more practice time, assuming Brown remains eligible in the coming weeks.

While the NFL did not place Brown on the Commissioner's Exempt list ahead of Sunday's game, the league did not rule it out as an option entirely. Rapoport reports that Brown's accuser, Britney Taylor, is slated to meet with league investigators on Monday.

2. This Patriots' defense is an absolute bear. New England (2-0) has given up just three points through eight quarters, and after demoralizing the Steelers in Week 1, the unit laid waste to the Dolphins. The Patriots racked up 11 QB hits and seven sacks, logged three interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns) and completely prevented the Dolphins from having anything that resembled an NFL-caliber offense. Tom Brady and Co. will garner most of the headlines, but the defense in Foxborough might be one of the best groups in the NFL.

NFL Research ✔ @NFLResearch The #Patriots defense put up 37 fantasy points, the most by a defense since the Titans had 38 fantasy points in Week 17, 2012 vs Jacksonville

385 3:36 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 115 people are talking about this 3. If you want to look on the bright side, Dolphins fans, the team held tough against the Patriots through 2 1/2 quarters. But when the floodgates opened, boy did they open. A 16-0 game quickly became 23-0 after a patented Brady sneak, and back-to-back pick-sixes from Ryan Fitzpatrick sealed another blowout loss. This is a talent-poor group that has been outscored 102-10 in back-to-back home contests. When they aren't struggling to get separation, receivers are dropping passes (at least four vs. New England). The defense failed to get consistent pressure on Brady despite the Patriots missing both of their starting tackles (Isaiah Wynn was lost to a foot injury and Marcus Cannon (shoulder) was inactive). Things won't get easier for the Dolphins in Week 3 as travel to Dallas to face the red-hot Cowboys.

-- David Ely

Green Bay Packers 21, Minnesota Vikings 16

1. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense blitzed out of the gate, showing how good Matt LaFleur's offense could be when in rhythm. The Packers (2-0) scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to open the game with a 21-0 lead. Rogers moved the offense swiftly with tempo and balance, starting the first quarter 9-of-10 passing for 134 yards, and 2 TDs, including 3-for-3 on third down. Davante Adams looked uncoverable. Aaron Jones ripped off runs like a bull seeing red. After the first three possessions, however, the Packers offense looked stuck in mud, much like it was in Week 1. After the first three drives, Green Bay's possessions went: fumble, three-and-out, punt, downs, punt, fumble, punt, punt, three-and-out, three-and-out, punt. Credit the Vikings defense for turning the tide and not giving Rodgers time to breathe the final three quarters. Rodgers (22-34, 209 yards, 2 TDs) couldn't find a rhythm and held the ball with receivers blanketed the rest of the tilt. The best Packers offensive player was running back Aaron Jones who toted a career-high 23 times for 116 yards and a TD. Jones blasted through the line several times for chunk gains, and his carries were the few good plays for the Pack in the second half. LaFleur sought balance with the run game and got it in Week 2 with Jones (who added four catches for 34 yards). Through two weeks, it's been baby steps for the Packers' offense. Getting two division wins while Rodgers and company sort out the kinks could prove massive come December.

2. The Vikings defense helped Minnesota (1-1) scrap back into the game, but Kirk Cousins threw it away. Dalvin Cook did his best to carry the Vikings offense, including a 75-yard touchdown blastoff in which he blasted past safety Darnell Savage to cut the Packers' early lead. Cook looked phenomenal all game, pummeling a gassed Packers defense in the second half en route to 154 yards on 20 carries, and added three catches for 37 yards. Cousins, however, struggled badly. The quarterback completed just 43.8 percent of 32 passes for 230 yards and one TD, fumbled twice (losing one) and threw two brutal INTs. The second interception was a boneheaded decision by the Vikes' QB. Trailing by five with 5:17 left at the eight-yard line on first down, Cousins forced a ball into the corner of the end zone to Stefon Diggs, which was picked off. The pass exemplified a day in which Cousins looked lost repeatedly and missed throw after throw high, wide, or in the dust. Outside of one great throw to Diggs for a TD, it was a forgetful trip to Lambeau for Cousins. With even slightly better play from the QB, the Vikings could have completed a massive comeback. Missing a field goal, having a TD called back due to OPI, a blocked extra point, and a bevy of other bad penalties will leave Mike Zimmer fuming on the trip home.

3. Credit the Packers' revamped defense with forcing Cousins into some terrible decisions. Savage once again looked like the real deal, breaking beautifully on a Cousins pass over the middle and breaking it up for a tipped INT by Preston Smith. Linebacker Blake Martinez (13 tackles) cleaned up all the garbage, while Za'Darius Smith once again proved a problem for opponents getting off blocks. While the front got gashed at times by Cook (especially in the second half when they were on the field forever), but the secondary once again showed its promise. Savage, Jaire Alexander (two passes defended, including a broken-up TD) and Kevin King (INT) all made key plays to preserve the W.

-- Kevin Patra

Los Angeles Rams 27, New Orleans Saints 9

1. The biggest news coming out of L.A. happened after the Saints' second drive when Drew Brees exited the tilt with a thumb injury on his throwing hand following a hit by Aaron Donald. The future Hall of Fame quarterback didn't return. Depending on how long the injury to Brees -- who couldn't grip a ball on the sideline -- lasts, it's an injury that could alter the complexion of the NFC playoff race.

With Brees on the sideline, the Rams defense smothered backup Teddy Bridgewater and the Saints offense. The Rams dominated the line of scrimmage with Donald, Dante Fowler, Michael Brockers, Clay Matthews, et al. controlling play. The Rams D bottled up Alvin Kamara as well as any team we've seen, holding the dynamic running back to 60 scrimmage yards on 14 touches. Repeatedly forcing Bridgewater to hold the ball with good coverage on the back end, L.A. held the Saints to one drive of more than 40 net yards in 10 possessions and zero touchdowns. Yes, Brees wasn't in for the majority of the game, but it was an impressive display from the Rams' defense nonetheless.

2. What a difference Cooper Kupp makes for the Rams. On a mostly workman-like day for the L.A. offense, Kupp provided the most explosive play. The receiver, coming off a torn ACL, caught a slant, beating corner Marshon Lattimore off the line, stiff-armed the CB into next week, weaved through the Saints secondary, broke additional poor tackle attempt, and muscled his way to the one-inch yard line setting up a Jared Goff sneak. The play put the Rams up big and squashed any thoughts of a Saints late-game comeback. The effect of Kupp (5/120) returning to the lineup this season can't be understated. The slot receiver gives Goff his security blanket back and slides Robert Woods (2/33) and Brandin Cooks (3/74/1) into better positions to win on the outside.

3. It wouldn't be a Saints-Rams matchup without refereeing controversy. In the second quarter, with the score tied 6- 6 and the Rams at the 11-yard line, Goff was hit on a drop back, and the ball popped out as he went to throw. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan scooped up the pigskin and raced downfield for what could have been a huge defensive touchdown. However, the play was whistled dead as Jordan was scampering down the sideline and ruled an incomplete pass. After review, it was determined the ball was out before the pass giving the Saints the ball. The whistle, however, wiped out what could have been a game-altering defensive score.

NFL Officiating ✔ @NFLOfficiating Al Riveron explains the reversal of the on-field ruling of an incomplete pass in #NOvsLAR:

Embedded video 1,296 5:13 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 1,701 people are talking about this -- Kevin Patra

Detroit Lions 13, Los Angeles Chargers 10

1. One week after an overtime win at home, the Chargers (1-1) weren't so lucky in their first road game of the season. Sloppy play and miscues plagued the Chargers in all facets of the game against the Lions. Bolts punter Ty Long assumed kicking duties for the second consecutive week as Michael Badgley was sidelined again with a groin injury. Long missed back-to-back field goals, which proved to be costly in the end for the Chargers. Kicking woes are nothing new for the Chargers and Bolts faithful. For several seasons, the team has failed to establish consistency at the position or have been faced with subpar stand-ins due to injury.

2. The Lions' defense was fueled by the stout performances of Darius Slay, Tracy Walker, Jahlani Tavai and Devon Kennard that kept the Chargers out of the end zone Sunday. In the third quarter, Tavai forced an Ekeler goal-line fumble (which was recovered by Kennard). Slay had five tackles on the day and picked off Rivers in the end zone to seal the victory for Detroit (1-0-1). Offensively, the Lions took to the air against a thin Chargers secondary. Matthew Stafford threw for 245 yards and two touchdown passes with a pair of INTs. Detroit rushed for just 94 yards, splitting the workload between Kerryon Johnson and Ty Johnson.

3. Chargers receiver Mike Williams, who was a game-time decision, had three catches for 83 yards versus the Lions. This week, Williams sat out of practice due to a knee injury. The oft-injured Williams has proved to be a game changer for L.A., when healthy, but the third-year wideout hasn't gone a full season without some ailment. Philip Rivers went 21 for 36, totaling 287 yards and one interception. While Rivers spread the ball around between Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, the offense failed to get a rhythm going. The Chargers' offense certainly missed tight end Hunter Henry today, who is out for a while with a knee fracture.

-- Andie Hagemann

Indianapolis Colts 19, Tennessee Titans 17

1. The Colts (1-1) really have a kicker situation with Adam Vinatieri. The veteran kicker had another unexpectedly horrible game. He missed two PATs against the Titans. Just last week, he left seven points on the field with a missed extra point and two missed field goals. If you're the Colts, do you start trying out other kickers? Do you cut the veteran, or does he just retire? The Colts are lucky the Titans couldn't convert on fourth-and-2 with 15 seconds left, or they might be 0-2 to start the season.

After the game, Vinatieri told Stephen Holder of the Athletic that, "You'll hear from me tomorrow." Holder told him that they won't see him tomorrow. Vinatieri said, "Yeah, you will." Does the veteran plan to announce his retirement? Stay tuned.

2. The Titans (1-1) might've started off the game with fire due to some pyrotechnic problems but their offense didn't do enough to get a win. The Colts defense held the Titans to only one touchdown in the first half -- which was scored by offensive lineman David Quessenberry. This was his first career touchdown. The 2013 sixth-round pick was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and returned to the field in 2017 after a three-year long battle. Head coach Mike Vrabel had 12 receiving TDs (including playoffs) as a linebacker (the most by a non-skill- position player in the Super Bowl era), per NFL Research.

Marcus Mariota just couldn't convert on third downs (1/10) or get rid of the ball. He was sacked four times again -- his second game in a row. He finished the game with 19 out of 28 attempts for 154 yards, and one touchdown.

3. Jacoby Brissett struggled a bit in this game with two turnovers and three sacks but they were able to pull off the win with help from the defense. This week the defense redeemed themselves after a poor performance last Sunday. Brissett finished with 146 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Frank Reich showed confidence in his team and played very aggressive against the Titans which paid off in the end when they converted a crucial fourth down.

-- Lakisha Wesseling

Baltimore Ravens 23, Arizona Cardinals 17

1. Meet Lamar Jackson, the runner. In his follow-up to a near-perfect performance through the air in Week 1, Jackson had himself a day running the football posting a career-high 120 yards. Whether it be a designed running play or a scramble out of the pocket when under pressure, Jackson crossed the first-down marker often and his threat made it easier when dropping back to pass. Jackson ended the day completing 24 passes on 37 attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but with the pesky Cardinals nipping at Baltimore's heels all game, it was Jackson's playmaking ability on the ground that was the difference. The Ravens (2-0) weren't relying on Jackson to create something out of nothing, however, as they relied on his arm to help seal the win. Up six late in the fourth and looking at a third-and-long, Jackson heaved a perfect deep pass to Marquise "Hollywood" Brown for 41 yards and that allowed the Ravens running backs bleed out the clock for the victory.

2. While "Hollywood" Brown is quickly becoming his best receiving threat, Jackson is also showing his love for the tight end. Mark Andrews matched Brown's eight receptions against the Cardinals and hauled in the Ravens' first touchdown of the day. Fellow tight end Hayden Hurst caught the other one. Andrews now has 16 receptions through the first two games and is quickly becoming one of the top pass-catchers at the position. Perhaps the tight end is a dynamic that has been overlooked when it comes to the Ravens offense, especially considering they want to deem themselves a threat on the ground and through the air on seemingly every play.

3. Although the Cardinals (0-1-1) kept settling for field goals, Murray played well considering he was constantly hounded by the Ravens defense, but that was due in large part to the Arizona wideouts. Often times lining up with a minimum of four wide receivers, the group was sure-handed and bailed out some of Murray's errant throws. The ball was distributed equally in Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense, with Larry Fitzgerald (5 receptions, 104 yards) and Christian Kirk (6 receptions, 114 yards) leading the group. Damiere Byrd also had himself a productive day catching six balls for 45 yards, and rookie KeeSean Johnson created a big play to extend a drive late in the game. Murray ended up with 349 yards passing with no interceptions but failed to get the offense into the end zone through the air. Growing pains were something expected for the rookie QB and head coach, but the talented receiving corps was a highlight to an otherwise inconsistent offense.

-- Michael Baca

San Francisco 49ers 41, Cincinnati Bengals 17

1. San Francisco has a true running back-by-committee and it was the catalyst to a well-oiled machine offensively. With Tevin Coleman going to injured reserve after Week 1, Matt Breida, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert combined for a halfback attack that gained 259 yards on the ground and 84 yards through the air. Breida led the RBBC in rushing with 121 yards on 12 attempts, while Mostert led the way receiving with 68 yards off three receptions. The trio was the heartbeat of a San Francisco offense that moved the ball rather easily against the Bengals, scoring five touchdowns, accruing 27 first downs, gaining 572 total yards and forcing Cincinnati to play from behind from the outset. Of course, leading the way was an offensive line that had no problem creating a push despite a few holding penalties (and Joe Staley's exit from the game with an injury). Just as effective was the play-calling from head coach Kyle Shanahan, who had Bengals defenders blaming each other every other play. All of which made it an uncomplicated outing for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who, aside from an early interception, ended the day throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns in just 25 attempts, and wasn't sacked at all.

2. The 49ers defense is beginning to look like a force to be reckoned with. Following up their three-interception, two- touchdown stranglehold of the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, San Francisco's defense brought Andy Dalton back down to earth. Literally. The 49ers had four sacks of Dalton and hit him six other times. Meanwhile, the secondary of the 49ers provided great coverage as the defense caused havoc, breaking up eight Dalton passes for incompletions. Cincinnati had an even tougher time running the ball against the Niners, gaining only 25 yards on the ground on 19 attempts. As for the two touchdowns given up, one stemmed off of Garoppolo's INT at midfield and the other was a late-game catch-and-run that found the wide-open holes of a prevent defense. With new additions like Dee Ford, Nick Bosa and Kwon Alexander, veteran 49ers like DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas (who both notched a sack) are thriving. It's a sight for sore eyes in San Francisco, which has had an abysmal defense the last two years, but now starting the 2019 season, 2-0 -- the first time since 2012, when they reached the Super Bowl -- the 49ers are revamped on both sides of the ball.

3. If there was any good sign for the Bengals (0-2) in this one, it was the continuation of John Ross' hot start and Tyler Boyd's playmaking ability. Although Ross was the beneficiary of the 49ers' prevent defense in the fourth quarter -- a 66-yard catch and run that was made with his speed -- he ended the day with four catches for 112 yards and is certain to maintain the confidence of a second-round pick who had disappointed before 2019. As for Boyd, his day of 10 catches for 122 yards could've been better has a holding penalty not brought back a would-be TD reception. Boyd was sure-handed in catching all 10 of his targets, and was the only real bright spot of an offense that was frustrated all day.

-- Michael Baca

Seattle Seahawks 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 26

1. The Seahawks (2-0) could not get their offense going to start the game. Russell Wilson was sacked four times in the first half with three of them in the first quarter alone. Credit offensive coordinator Brian Scottenheimer and Wilson for adjusting at the half. They switched to quick throws and Wilson ate up the Steelers' zone defense. Wilson went for 29 out of 35 for 300 yards and three touchdowns.

2. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger exited the game right before halftime with a right elbow injury and did not return. So, in came second-year QB Mason Rudolph in his first NFL game. The Steelers (0-2) actually moved the ball better with him behind center. Rudolph threw on time and dove for first downs. He finished with 12 out of 19 attempts, 112 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.

3. Despite having another disappointing game, Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster surpassed Hall of Famer Randy Moss to become the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards in NFL history, per NFL Research.

-- Lakisha Wesseling

Kansas City Chiefs 28, Oakland Raiders 10

1. It's becoming redundant at this point, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to prove he's the most exciting player in the NFL. Down 10 points after the first quarter, the Chiefs seemed to be in for a competitive game against their AFC West rival, but Mahomes quickly put an end to that. Mahomes had four touchdowns and 278 yards passing in the second quarter alone to give Kansas City the ultimate swing in momentum and a 28-10 lead going into halftime. Evidently, that's all that was needed to deflate the Raiders. Mahomes ended the day completing 30 of 44 for 443 passing yards, and although there weren't any more scores, the third-year QB led long-enough drives to maintain the lead on a day when the Chiefs ran for 31 yards.

2. No Tyreek Hill, no problem. The Chiefs' offense didn't skip a beat with their top playmaker out with an injury, and fourth-year receiver Demarcus Robinson filled the role perfectly. Robinson amassed 172 yards on six catches and scored two touchdowns, leading all Chiefs receivers and making some eye-popping plays downfield averaging 28.7 yards per catch. Travis Kelce had his rudimentary stat line with seven grabs for 107 yards and a touchdown, Sammy Watkins was relatively quiet with six receptions for 49 yards, and rookie Mecole Hardman found the end zone on a 42-yarder in one of his two receptions. It sure seems like whoever is catching passes in Andy Reid's system will produce with Mahomes flinging the ball.

3. Derek Carr etched his name into Raiders history in the defeat. Carr became the Raiders' all-time leader in passing yards, passing Hall of Famer Ken Stabler, who held the top spot with 19,078 yards through the air. On the day, however, Carr didn't do much worth celebrating, ending the day completing 23 of 38 passes for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Carr accomplished this early in his sixth season with the Raiders, and did so in what is sure to be the most Raiders-ey historical footnote: the last NFL game ever played on the dirt of a baseball diamond.

PUBLICATION: Sports Illustrated DATE: 9/16/19

Offensive Pass Interference Call Leaves Both Vikings and Packers Confused

By Kalyn Kahler

QUICKLY For the first time this season, an offensive pass interference call, made after the booth asked for a replay, took a touchdown off the board.

It’s been 45 minutes since the game clock ran out on the Vikings’ 21–16 loss to the Packers, and Stefon Diggs sits at his locker, completely alone. He’s finally taken off his jersey and shoulder pads, but otherwise is still dressed in his uniform. Dirt and grass are crusted onto his purple socks and has flaked off on the carpet around him. Equipment staff scurry about picking up the last bags left and the rest of his Minnesota teammates have showered, dressed, and rolled their carry-on sized suitcases down the narrow hallway out of the visitor’s locker room to the team bus.

But the Vikings receiver is taking this loss hard. And you probably would too, if you had a touchdown catch put on the scoreboard and then painfully reversed. Diggs wasn’t at fault on the play in question, and there were plenty of other places during the game in which Minnesota could have made up the point difference, but it still bothers him.

“You tell me what happened,” he says. “I honestly don't know.”

In short: the Vikings fell victim to the offseason rule change that makes pass interference calls and non-calls reviewable by instant replay. This was the first time that a touchdown had been reversed after the booth called for a review with less than two minutes left in the half.

It was first-and-goal at the three-yard line for the Vikings with 1:12 left in the second half, and Diggs caught a touchdown pass to put the score at 21-14, Green Bay still leading. As Vikings players celebrated their second touchdown, replay official Terri Valenti initiated a review of the play from the press box. Down on the field, players, and even some officials, were confused. Referee John Hussey accidentally left his microphone on, which caught him saying, “Tell me why we're stopping the game, please.”

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With the rule change, any interference-related reviews are subject to the coaches challenge system for the first 28 minutes of the half, but in the final two minutes of each half, a pass interference review is initiated by the replay official. The officials overturned the touchdown with a pass interference call, which set the Vikings back 10 yards. Minnesota ultimately settled for a field goal after failing to score again.

NFL Officiating ✔ @NFLOfficiating In #MINvsGB, a flag for offensive pass interference on Minnesota #33 was put on the ground from New York, negating a touchdown. Here’s the explanation:

Embedded video 273 1:39 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 721 people are talking about this

When the penalty was called, the officials didn’t name a specific player, but it was clear the only player making contact on a Packers defender was running back Dalvin Cook. Cook aligned in a three-receiver bunch to the right of the formation and made contact with two different defenders on the play as he ran across the action to the left. The second player he made contact with was Packers safety Darnell Savage, who was running in the opposite direction, towards the area of the endzone where Diggs made the play. It looked like a typical pick play in the red zone, many of which go uncalled when receivers make contact with defenders. But eligible receivers are not allowed to make contact with defending players more than a yard beyond the line of scrimmage before the ball is caught.

Fox Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino was surprised that the replay official initiated a review, because Cook’s contact is in a gray area where it might be incidental. “He gets jammed, but is he really blocking?” Blandino asked. “It does not appear to be clear and obvious.”

“I feel like they went the extra mile trying to emphasize it as a whole,” Diggs says. “You just have to watch the game and figure out what is what, because I don't know the calls anymore.”

Cook, who was otherwise brilliant in this game, 154 yards including a 75-yard touchdown run, didn’t have much to add on the penalty either. “I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t even know it was on me. I can’t describe it.”

A few lockers down from Cook, rookie running back Alexander Mattison also shook his head at the call. “It's surprising,” he says. “We didn't expect that, especially in the situation that it was, tight, within five yards, a lot of different things that went on in that play that you didn't think they would call that.”

Diggs said he didn’t get any explanation from officials during the game. “They don't say sh--,” he says. “We just have to eat it.”

With 23 seconds left in the second quarter, Diggs himself was called for offensive pass interference on a 15-yard reception. It was the beginning of a drive that might have ended the half with a field goal for the Vikings, had his completion stood. When the game went to halftime, Diggs personally sought out field judge Allen Baynes to ask him what he was doing wrong. “He said, ‘You can’t close fists, use your shoulder, you can’t extend your arm,’” Diggs says.

When Diggs finally found the end zone in the third quarter, he ripped off his helmet, screamed (it didn’t take a skilled lip reader to get an idea of the profanity he shouted) and paced the endzone, visibly unleashing his frustration from the earlier calls. That earned him a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, adding 30 yards to the extra point attempt, making it a 49-yard PAT, which Vikings kicker Dan Bailey missed. (There’s another missed point in the game.)

“You saw how the game was going on,” Diggs said. “I ain’t saying no names, but I feel like the people wearing black and white, you know? You saw how it was going. I had the early situation with the PI and then at the end of the half. Y’all saw what happened.”

After the game, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron confirmed the offensive pass interference was in fact called on Cook and offered an explanation for the play, which had Vikings fans taking to Twitter in a huff during the game.

“Every time, by rule, there’s a score of a turnover, here in New York we automatically take a look at all aspects of the play, which this year includes offensive and defensive pass interference. After we looked at the play, we saw clear and obvious visual evidence that No. 33 [Cook] significantly hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air. Therefore, we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards.”

Riveron clarified that the booth would have reviewed the play even if it hadn’t been a scoring play because it was within the final two minutes of the half.

Over in Green Bay’s locker room, CB Tramon Williams, playing in his 13th NFL season, admitted he was also stunned by the reversal. Williams was part of the play, but on the other side of the endzone, so he didn’t get a good look at it until the replay played on the video screen.

“Truthfully, I didn't know how far the pass interference rule was going to go,” he says. “I thought they were just reviewing something, I don't know exactly what they were reviewing but for them to go that far, it's pretty good because in the red zone, a lot of teams like to run pick routes. That's how they get open, everything happens fast. For the officials to go back and be able to look at that, it is going to be really good for us. It is one of the rules that may help us out.”

Offenses have been getting away with pick plays in the red zone for so long, this feels like a defensive back’s big break. “Offenses used to never get called [for that],” Savage says. “Most of the time people when offenses do a pick route, they will actually run routes. If you look like you have no intention of running a route, and you just pick your person out, they normally don’t call that, but it is what it is.”

As for the Vikings offense, they’ll certainly review this play and see if they can make adjustments, like selling the route better, or waiting to make contact until after the ball has been caught. “I'm not sure there is much he could have done differently,” Mattison says. “It's a natural situation to play, [Cook] was running a route and the safety was there.”

The safety in question, Savage, had one suggestion for the Vikings. “I mean, you could run the actual route,” he said. “But that's become a big part of everyone's game in the red zone. As DBs we have to fight through it.”

PUBLICATION: Maven Sports DATE: 9/16/19

Cousins' Turnovers, Inaccuracy Cost Vikings in Narrow Loss to Packers

By Will Ragatz

A wild game at Lambeau Field resulted in a disappointing loss for the road team.

Kirk Cousins was handed opportunity after opportunity to complete a dramatic comeback win in Green Bay.

He couldn't get it done.

The Vikings' 21-16 loss to the Packers on Sunday featured major momentum shifts, big plays, and questionable calls by the officiating crew. But ultimately, the story is simple: Cousins lost the game. He had his worst performance as a Viking, combining woeful accuracy with inexcusable decision-making. When he needed to rise to the occasion, he came up short. That's his reputation. Once again, he proved why that reputation exists.

ADVERTISEMENTSCROLL TO CONTINUE READING One specific decision will stick with Cousins and Vikings fans for a while. With just over five minutes remaining and the Vikings facing first and goal from the Packers' 8-yard-line, Cousins was pressured and rolled out to his right. No receivers were open. He should've thrown the ball away.

Instead, he lofted the ball towards the back corner of the end zone and a heavily-covered Stefon Diggs. Kevin King picked off the pass, and the Vikings' best opportunity to take the lead was dead.

It was an inexcusable, mind-boggling decision from an eighth-year veteran and the worst moment in a game full of bad moments for the Vikings' QB. Cousins finished 14 of 32 for 230 yards with one touchdown, two picks and a lost fumble. After his touchdown pass to Diggs cut the lead to five, the Vikings had four chances to take the lead. One ended with the back-breaking pick. The other three ended with punts.

The three turnovers were the story, but the more concerning long-term issue for the Vikings was Cousins' inaccuracy. He missed receivers long and he missed them short. He threw behind his targets and over the heads. The pass protection wasn't awful and the coverage wasn't blanketing. He just didn't make the throws the Vikings needed him to make.

Krauser @Krauserrific Vikings put up 7.0 yards per play and allowed 4.9 yards per play, but lost.

There have only been 13 games in the last 10 years in the NFL with the losing team >7 YPP and winning team <5 YPP.

Kirk Cousins has been the losing QB in 3 such games since 2013.

Kryptonite.

2,584 3:36 PM - Sep 15, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 760 people are talking about this Early on, it looked like the Vikings were going to get run off the field in Green Bay. The Packers scored with relative ease on each of their first three possessions, taking a commanding 21-0 lead. Then Dalvin Cook ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run and something clicked for Mike Zimmer's defense, which held the Packers without a point the rest of the way.

Rodgers and the Packers were shut down for 11 straight drives, jamming the door wide open for Cousins to steal a win on the road. It was a very impressive, resilient effort from a defense that was thin in the secondary and looked lifeless in the first quarter.

It was also another excellent afternoon for the Vikings' running game. Cook ran for 154 yards on 20 carries and Alexander Mattison had a couple nice runs. On the drive that ended in the end zone interception, the Vikings were ripping off chunk after chunk on the ground. The decision to throw on first down was surprising. Cousins' decision to not throw it away was inexplicable.

The end result was a game that the Vikings could've – and probably should've – won.

They didn't get it done, and if Cousins doesn't turn his play around, no amount of rushing and defensive success will be enough for the Vikings to be a contender in 2019.

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

5 Takeaways from the Vikings Loss to Green Bay

By Mike Wobschall

For three quarters of Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field, the Vikings defense dominated and held Green Bay’s offense scoreless. Unfortunately, Green Bay’s sharp execution in the 1st quarter and missed opportunities by the Vikings offense throughout the game proved too much to overcome as the Packers came away with a 21-16 victory.

Here are five observations from Sunday’s loss in Green Bay.

1. A win was there for the taking, but missed opportunities spoiled a comeback

Green Bay started fast, but the Vikings refused to give up. Over the final three quarters of the game, the Vikings began whittling away at the 21-point deficit in which they found themselves after the first 16 minutes of action. In a game they lost by five points, several mistakes seemed particularly costly. A missed field goal and blocked extra point accounted for four potential points that never reached the scoreboard. A Stefon Diggs touchdown was negated by an offensive pass interference call. And then a Kirk Cousins interception in the end zone near the end of the game was the backbreaker. If any combination or perhaps even just one of these events go the Vikings way, Sunday’s outcome may have been dramatically altered.

2. Vikings defense responded with tenacity

Head coach Mike Zimmer comments often about wanting to see his team fight through adversity. He certainly saw that on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Vikings were down 21-0 after Green Bay’s first three possessions. From that point on, though, the Vikings defense was dominant. Green Bay’s final 11 possessions ended like this: fumble, punt, punt, downs, punt, fumble, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt. In that span, Green Bay was just two of 12 on 3rd downs and they had six drives of four plays or fewer. The tape of this game will provide Zimmer and the defensive staff with plenty of teaching material – both constructive criticism and a model of how things should be done.

3. The Vikings can run the ball

The Vikings worked hard this offseason, training camp and preseason on becoming a better rushing offense. That work is paying off. The Vikings led the League in rushing during the preseason and through two games in the regular season the Vikings have rushed 65 times for 370 yards (5.7 per attempt) and four touchdowns. Dalvin Cook has a pair of 100-yard rushing games and on Sunday he had a dazzling 75-yard scoring run that helped spark the team’s effort over the final three quarters.

4. Too many penalties, including four offensive pass interference infractions combined

The NFL made pass interference calls and non-calls reviewable in 2019, and an ugly byproduct of that decision surfaced in Sunday’s game when a three-yard touchdown catch by Diggs was nullified after officials reviewed the score and determined Dalvin Cook was blocking downfield while the ball was in the air. The penalty was not called during the play and was instead called and enforced upon review of the score. The Vikings were penalized eight times for 100 yards, with another costly one being an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Diggs after his 45-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter. That increased the extra point try by 15 yards, and then Green Bay blocked Dan Bailey’s attempt.

5. 2019 Vikings makeup: Compete, Run Defend

At the end of the day, the Vikings took a loss on Sunday and their record fell to 1-1. There are no moral victories in this League and if their season falls short of reaching the playoffs then the Vikings will look back at their Week 2 loss as a missed opportunity. With that being said, even in a loss this week the Vikings doubled down on what they showed in Week 1…they are a team with great competitive integrity anchored by an elite defense and benefiting from an improved rushing attack. This is the type of team we’ve heard Zimmer say he wants, and this is the type of team Zimmer has in 2019. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Cousins Takes Blame, Laments Missed Opportunities Against Packers

By Eric Smith

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — The Vikings offense was eight yards from the end zone, just two dozen feet from completing a remarkable comeback in a hostile environment.

Facing first-and-goal with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Kirk Cousins faked the handoff and rolled to his right as wide receiver Stefon Diggs headed to the back right corner of the end zone.

With the Vikings trailing by five, Cousins kept moving to his right before eventually lofting a pass that had the potential to give Minnesota the lead.

Instead, it was picked off by Packers cornerback Kevin King.

That was as close as the Vikings would get to the end zone in the fourth quarter of a bitter 21-16 loss at Lambeau Field, one that came in frustrating fashion for the offense.

“You just can’t do that,” Cousins said of his interception. “In happened last week in our game [by our defense], and we talked about it all week, how you can’t do that.

“It’s uncharacteristic of me. I can’t do it,” Cousins added. “What I was thinking was, ‘Give Stefon a chance, kind of an ours-or nobody’s thing.’ It wasn’t nobody’s, [King] just went and made a play. You just can’t do that.”

A year after throwing for 425 yards with four touchdowns for a passer rating of 118.8 in Week 2 in Green Bay, Cousins couldn’t replicate his success this time around against the Packers defense.

He completed 14 of 32 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions, plus a lost fumble that led to a Green Bay touchdown.

Cousins didn’t mince words as he put the single-digit loss squarely on his shoulders.

“It was just a gut-wrenching loss. I’m proud of the way my teammates fought, kept fighting … but I’m very disappointed in my performance today,” Cousins said. “It just wasn’t good enough. At the quarterback position, to expect to win, I felt like with the way our team fought, we were right there at the end, as a result of the way our team kept playing.

“Walking away, I feel like I didn’t feel like I did my part today and I didn’t feel like I gave our team the chance it needed from my role,” Cousins added. “That’s very, very frustrating. Very disappointing. I’ll stand up here and take ownership of that. I had a lot of plays that did not get made, that got left out there. I think that’s why it’s extra frustrating.”

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer summed up what he saw from Cousins on the day.

“It was up and down,” Zimmer said. “He had some throws and some misses.”

Down 7-0, Cousins led the Vikings into field goal range on the opening drive but Dan Bailey’s 47-yard try was no good. That led to another Green Bay score and a 14-0 deficit for the Vikings.

Cousins then fumbled on back-to-back plays, with Green Bay recovering the second one at the Vikings 33-yard line.

The Packers needed just four plays for another score as Green Bay took a commanding 21-0 lead.

Dalvin Cook got the Vikings on the board with a career-long 75-yard touchdown run before the teams traded punts, with the Vikings getting possession at their own 40-yard line with less than five minutes remaining in the first half.

Instead of pulling to within one score, however, Cousins was intercepted on third down to thwart the drive.

The missed chance was part of a 1-for-7 performance from Minnesota on third down in the first half, as the Vikings were 4-of-13 on that down in the entire game.

Cousins explained the frustrations on not being able to move the sticks.

“There are certainly more plays that are significant when the game does or doesn’t go your way, and third downs are one of them,” Cousins said. “Obviously, those today were not good enough … there were a couple of third-down throws that were really tough to not hit.

“One was to Adam [Thielen] on the sideline early in the game in the first half, and the other was a deep one to Stefon [in the fourth quarter] that was overthrown by a few yards,” Cousins added. “That’s tough because you feel like if you hit that, maybe he scores, maybe we’re first-and-goal from the 5, or whatever it is. It changes the flow of the game. Those are ones you are really frustrated about when you’re walking to the sideline.”

Although Cousins put the blame on himself, a pair of defensive standouts for the Vikings said it was a team loss.

“Kirk is always going to say that; he’s our quarterback. They did some stuff on offense, too,” said Vikings safety Harrison Smith. “If we don’t get down as far as we do, we make it easier on them the rest of the game. We just have to start faster on defense.”

Game Photos: Vikings Take on the Packers View images as the Vikings take on the Packers at Lambeau Field during Week 2.

Added defensive end Everson Griffen: “This is the best team sport, team game. We have to do better, collectively.”

The quarterback tried to lead a furious second-half rally, hitting Diggs for a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter, but another attempt to find him for a score ended up in the hands of King, the Green Bay defender.

“Trying to make something happen late in the game,” Diggs said.

Through two games, Cousins has completed 22 of 42 passes for 328 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

As the Vikings look ahead to a Week 3 home game against Oakland at U.S. Bank Stadium, Zimmer said he has plenty of confidence in Cousins going forward.

“Today, he made a couple of mistakes,” Zimmer said. “but the guy made some great plays as well, the throw to Diggs.

“He’s got all of the talent,” Zimmer added. “We just need to continue to coach him.” PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Action Reaction: Vikings Offensive, Defensive Struggles in Red Zone Loom Large

By Craig Peters

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — The effort was there, but the execution at critical spots of the field wasn’t.

Subpar results on offense and defense in the red zone stung Minnesota on Sunday in a 21-16 loss at Green Bay.

The Packers reached the red zone on each of their first three possessions and finished each drive with a touchdown in building a 21-point lead in a little more than a quarter.

The Vikings, conversely, advanced the ball inside the 20-yard line two times and managed just three points out of the red zone trips.

Pregame question: How would Minnesota handle its first in-game adversity of 2019?

In-game action

The Packers caught the Vikings with a “miscommunication” on the first play of the game for a 39-yard gain on a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. A screen pass three plays later went for a 15-yard touchdown from Rodgers to Jamaal Williams.

After a missed field goal by Minnesota, Green Bay put together an 11-play drive that covered 63 yards and ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Geronimo Allison, who was working in the slot against Nate Meadors, a rookie defensive back who was added to the 53-man roster this week.

“Typically, we’re pretty good in the red zone, but today we weren’t good enough,” Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said. “They found some of our substitution guys and hit them early. We had to make some adjustments.”

(The Vikings were without first-team nickel defensive back Mackensie Alexander, who suffered an elbow injury in Week 1, and Mike Hughes is still working his way back from a torn ACL injury).

The Packers needed to go just 33 yards to go up 21-0 after Kirk Cousins fumbled while being sacked. Cousins had fumbled on the previous play during a scramble, but rookie Irv Smith, Jr., recovered that one.

It was no dice on the second, and the Packers piled on with a 15-yard reception to Adams against Rhodes on the ensuing play. A 9-yard run and a 7-yard pass put the ball at the 2, and Green Bay plowed in with a 2-yard run by Aaron Jones.

A career-long 75-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook just 16 seconds later gave the Vikings a much-needed jolt.

The defense adjusted and recovered a fumble by Allison on the next possession, forced four three-and-outs, came up with a stop on a fourth-and-1 and didn’t allow points for the final 46 minutes.

The offense was able to get a few more big plays, but they were overshadowed by penalties.

After a 61-yard catch-and-run by Chad Beebe placed the ball at the Green Bay 3 with less than two minutes left in the first half, a touchdown pass from Cousins to Stefon Diggs was challenged by officials and overturned because of a pass interference that was added against Dalvin Cook.

The drive stalled and ended with a 31-yard field goal to make it 21-10 with 0:51 remaining in the first half.

Minnesota scored on its second possession of the second half, erasing an offensive pass interference call against Thielen on a 42-yard throw to the end zone a play after Minnesota recovered a fumbled snap.

The Vikings rebounded when Cousins connected with Diggs for a 45-yard touchdown on third-and-13.

Diggs, however, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play because he took off his helmet before leaving the field. The ensuing PAT was from a distance of 48 yards and blocked.

The Vikings defense kept stymying the Packers offense, keeping it a one-score margin.

Minnesota had a golden opportunity in the fourth quarter, advancing the ball to the Green Bay 8 for a first-and-goal, but Cousins took a shot at trying to hit Diggs in the end zone, and Kevin King came down with the football.

The costly interception with 5:10 left in the game occurred after gains of 8, 3 and 14 on the ground. It proved to be the final scoring opportunity of the day.

“I shouldn’t put [Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski] in that position,” Cousins said. “I should throw the ball away and move to the next down. We had run the ball well. That’s a huge positive for the first two weeks of the season, a huge improvement is running the football well. When you do that, you can win games, so I’m encouraged by how well we ran the football in the first two games. I think that’s something that will serve us well going forward.”

Postgame reaction:

On the slow start

“We knew they’d start fast. They didn’t start fast last week, so we figured they would. They caught us in a couple of things, and we were a little banged up in the secondary, so we made some adjustments.” — Zimmer

“We didn’t start out very well defensively, had a 21-point deficit to start the game. We fought hard but we didn’t play well enough to win. A lot of dumb penalties. The penalty after the touchdown was just selfish, and we ended up getting the extra point blocked.” — Zimmer

“You can’t start that way and put your team in that deficit. You have to make the plays and get those first downs and all your team to play football. Obviously going down 21-0, we battled back and I’m proud of the team for that. But there’s so many things we have to learn from and so many things we have to fix fast.” — Receiver Adam Thielen

“We had to make up for how we played early on. Proud of the way we played the rest of the game … shut them down for the most part … but it was too little, too late.” — Linebacker Anthony Barr

On the interception in the end zone occurring on first down

“It makes it all the worse. It makes it more unacceptable to do that on first down. It was just uncalled for. There’s no justification, there’s no defense that needs to be made. It was unacceptable to put my team in a terrible position. We had worked so hard to get down there, had a great chance to take the lead and win the game. It just slipped out of our hands.” — Cousins

On not making critical plays

“Yeah, there are certainly certain plays that are more significant when the outcome goes your way or doesn’t go your way, and third downs are one of them and red zone plays. Obviously, those today were not good enough, with the interception in the red zone and there were a couple of third downs that were really tough not to hit. One was to Adam on the sideline early in the game in the first half, and the other was a deep one to Stefon that was overthrown by a few yards. That’s tough because you feel like if you hit that, maybe he scores, maybe we’re first-and-goal from the 5, or whatever it is. It changes the flow of the game. Those are ones you are really frustrated about when you’re walking to the sideline.” — Cousins PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings Defense Can’t Overcome Rough Start in Road Loss to Packers

By Eric Smith

* GREEN BAY, Wisc. —* The Vikings defense wasn’t about to start celebrating any moral victories inside a quiet locker room at Lambeau Field.

Not after a sour 21-16 loss to Minnesota’s most bitter rival, even if the defense did play lights out for the game’s final three quarters.

No, there are no moral victories when a veteran defense gives up 21 points and didn’t seem to have an answer for anything in the game’s first 16 minutes.

“We knew they’d start fast,” Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said of the Packers offense. “They didn’t start fast last week [against Chicago], so we figured they would.

“They caught us in a couple of things, and we were a little banged up in the secondary, so we made some adjustments,” Zimmer added.

Said linebacker Anthony Barr: “They did a couple things that were different early, but nothing we’re not capable of stopping. We still have to play better in that situation.”

Minnesota’s first three defensive drives were a disaster, as the Packers gained 176 yards on their first 19 plays, good for nine-plus yards per play.

Green Bay opened the game with 39-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Davante Adams, who snuck past Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith.

“I mean, it was a new play. We thought something else,” Rhodes said. “There was no audible or nothing. Adams ran a different route than we thought he’d normally run on film.

“So I thought something, Harry thought something. It’s just not what we’d seen on film, and he just broke it off,” Rhodes added. “The first 15 plays are always different from what you see on film. It was a good play at the right time.”

The Packers needed just four plays to score for an early 7-0 lead. Minnesota’s deficit turned into 14-0 after the second drive, an 11-play sequence where Green Bay went 63 yards in 5:58.

A Vikings turnover then gave the Packers possession at Minnesota’s 33-yard line, and Green Bay scored four plays later.

“We started slowly. We have to come out and start faster than what we did today,” said Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. “Definitely a lot of stuff we have to work on. That’s a good football team, but we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Down 21-0, the Vikings defense kicked it in gear for the rest of the game, as Green Bay didn’t make it to the red zone for the game’s final 46 minutes.

After allowing 176 yards on the first 19 plays, Minnesota allowed 159 yards on Green Bay’s final 50 plays of Sunday’s game.

“We had to make up for how we played early on,” Barr said. “Proud of the way we played the rest of the game … shut them down for the most part … but it was too little, too late.”

Added Smith: “Everybody kind of calmed down, and we started playing our game.”

Perhaps the biggest difference came on third down, where the packers started 3-for-3 and didn’t even get to the down on their first and third drives of the game.

In the end, Green Bay converted five of 15 chances on third down, meaning the Vikings held them to just two successful tries on the Packers final dozen chances.

“Just started mixing up some calls and giving them different looks,” Barr said. “Just playing better, really.”

Minnesota also sacked Rodgers twice — with Hunter and Linval Joseph getting to the quarterback in the second half.

Rodgers began the game completing 10 of 11 for 141 yards and two scores, but was 12-of-23 for 68 yards the rest of the game.

Minnesota was depleted in the secondary as cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes both did not play. Linebacker Ben Gedeon also missed Sunday’s game.

The Vikings relied on Rhodes and Trae Waynes, while Jayron Kearse mostly played as the slot cornerback. Rookie Nate Meadors, an undrafted free agent from UCLA, also saw the field.

“Once we got settled in, we know the type of defense we have,” said Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. “We have guys that fly around and make plays. And once we got them settled in and the offense started making plays, the defense started making plays.

“It works hand-in-hand – special teams, offense and defense,” Cook added. “I think once everybody started clicking, you started seeing the Minnesota Vikings.”

Minnesota forced a pair of turnovers on the day, with Smith causing and recovering a first-half fumble. Defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa later corralled a Rodgers fumble on a snap.

But the valiant effort over the final three quarters wasn’t enough to mask a tough start, as the Vikings fell to 1-1 before Sunday’s game against Oakland at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Barr said. “Fortunately, it’s only Week 2, so we’ll get better and learn from this and get ready for next week.”

Added Hunter: “If we would have started fast enough, maybe we would have won the game.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Cook Goes Distance on Career Long TD Run, But Vikings Fall Short of Goal

By Lindsey Young

GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Dalvin Cook was off to the races at Green Bay.

The running back showed his wheels seemingly all game long, starting with a highlight-reel play in the second quarter.

After a disastrous first quarter in which the Packers built a 21-point lead over the Vikings, Minnesota had first-and-10 at its own 25. After an incompletion, quarterback Kirk Cousins handed off to Cook on second down, and No. 33 was gone.

Cook picked up speed and yards simultaneously, making it all the way to the end zone to put the Vikings on the board with a career-long 75-yard touchdown.

The play shifted momentum but the Vikings were unable to prevail in a 21-16 loss.

“Eventually one of us is going to make a play,” he said. “We’ve got guys that can make plays at any moment of the game, and eventually one of us was going to make a play to get this thing rolling. It was just me that made the play.”

Even after being down three scores – and two after Cook’s touchdown – the Vikings showed a commitment to the run. When all was said and done, the team racked up 198 rushing yards on 27 attempts.

Cook led all players with 154 yards on 20 rushes for an average of 7.7 yards per carry. He also added 37 yards on three receptions.

Dakota Dozier, who started at left guard in place of an injured Pat Elflein, said the offensive line takes pride in being able to move the sticks on the ground.

“Even if we’re down, we’re going to do the best we can to run it,” Dozier said. “And even when we were down, we proved that we can run the ball.”

Right tackle Brian O’Neill echoed Dozier but emphasized the disappointment of falling short in the Border Battle.

“I appreciate [the commitment to the run]. I appreciate them believing in us, and that’s all I can ask for,” O’Neill said. “But we have to give them more than we did.

Throughout the game, penalties played a factor for Minnesota.

Late in the second quarter and after a 61-yard catch-and-run by receiver Chad Beebe, Cousins found Stefon Diggs for a 3-yard touchdown. The score was nullified, however, when Cook was flagged for offensive pass interference.

The Vikings were unable to get back into the end zone on the drive and instead settled for a 31-yard field goal by Dan Bailey.

Following the game, Cook said he was unable to respond to a question about the penalty.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell you. I didn’t even know it was on me, to be real,” Cook said. “I don’t know.”

Diggs shared his perspective on the play:

“On the replay I saw he got pushed initially, and he made contact with the second defender. I ain’t the ref, and I don’t call the flags. I have to look at the rulebook. They didn’t say [anything]. We just have to eat it.”

Pass interference on the offense or defense is reviewable — and addable even if it is not called on the field because of a rule change this year.

NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riverson said in a pool report that the review was automatically done because it was a scoring play.

“After we looked at the play, we saw clear and obvious visual evidence that No. 33 significantly hinders the opponent while the ball is still in the air,” Riveron said. “Therefore, we negate the score and call offensive pass interference here from New York and penalize them 10 yards.”

Cook later added that it’s imperative to “clean up the little things” this week in practice heading into next Sunday’s home game against Oakland.

“Penalties hurt us a lot today. Just self-inflicted wounds that hurt us today,” Cook said. “When you come into an environment like this, you’ve gotta limit those things. We didn’t limit them as much as we should. That’s the thing – we have to go back and look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘We have to clean those things up.’ I think this week in practice, we should emphasize that a lot on the offensive side.”

Game Photos: Vikings Take on the Packers View images as the Vikings take on the Packers at Lambeau Field during Week 2.

Cook was complemented by running back Alexander Mattison, who had four carries for 25 yards.

“It feels good to go out there and have some success in the run game, but we didn’t get the win,” Mattison said. “As long as we can continue to have that success and then put it together with the victory, that will do some good things for the team.”

The Vikings used their running backs often in the fourth quarter, accruing 43 rushing yards on a late-game drive – but the effort wasn’t enough to get the job done.

Minnesota got within 8 yards of the end zone, but a pass play on first down resulted in an interception by Packers cornerback Kevin King.

Cook did not speak down on the choice to throw the ball in that situation.

“That’s the play call. We live with every play call that [Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski] calls,” Cook said. “We’ve got a great play caller on our side, and whatever he calls, we’re trying to execute it to a high level.”

The third-year running back finished with an impressive 154 yards on 20 carries but didn’t get what he most cared about, which was a Vikings win.

“You play the game to win. As a competitor, you play this thing to win football games and compete your tail off,” Cook said. “That’s the ultimate goal.”

Added Dozier: “You can run the ball great, but there’s still that taste of defeat.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings Comeback Falls Short in 21-16 Loss at Packers

By Craig Peters

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Minnesota fell behind by 21 and rallied but it wasn’t enough in a 21-16 loss on Sunday at Green Bay.

The Vikings suffered from quite a bit of self-harm, committing four turnovers, including one in the red zone on a first- and-goal from the 8, as well as eight penalties that resulted in 100 yards.

What a difference a week makes.

Very little, if anything, was difficult for the Vikings at home against Atlanta in Week 1. Virtually nothing was easy on the road at Green Bay in Week 2.

Instead of winning the turnover margin, Minnesota lost it by two.

And instead of a sack on the first snap in Week 1, the Vikings allowed a 39-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams.

It was 7-nothing three plays later, 14-zip by the end of the first quarter and 21-zip after the Packers third possession of the game, which started at the Minnesota 33-yard line after a sack fumble.

A 47-yard field goal attempt by Dan Bailey was wide left on the Vikings first possession, and the fumble by Kirk Cousins ended Minnesota’s next series.

Dalvin Cook gave the Vikings a jolt with a 75-yard touchdown to answer Green Bay’s third score of the game and make it 21-7 with 14:00 left in the first half.

Minnesota’s defense was able to slow down the Packers for the rest of the half.

Xavier Rhodes forced a fumble recovered by Harrison Smith, and stuffed a run on a third-and-1 on consecutive series.

Green Bay fell behind the chains on its next drive and punted, and the Packers were stuffed on a third-and-1 for no gain when Jayron Kearse and Smith tackled Geronimo Allison for no gain on third-and-1 from the Minnesota 25.

Rather than attempt a 43-yard field goal, the Packers went for it on fourth-and-1 when Jamaal Williams was stuffed by Linval Joseph for a loss of 2.

Minnesota took over with 1:33 remaining in the first half. Chad Beebe turned a short catch into a 61-yard gain to the Green Bay 3, and Cousins threw a quick pass over the middle to Stefon Diggs.

Under a new rule for 2019, and because the play was inside the final two minutes of a half, officials challenged that pass interference occurred. After review, Cook was flagged for contact with a defender while running a crossing route.

Minnesota settled for a 31-yard field goal to make it 21-10 at the half.

Green Bay was 4-for-8 on third downs in the first half, and Minnesota was just 1-for-6.

Cousins was 4-of-14 passing for 98 yards with an interception and a fumble lost in the first half. His passer rating was 26.5 at the end of the first 30 minutes.

Rodgers completed 16 of 22 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 121.6 in the first half, frequently pressuring him and recording sacks.

Minnesota was able to affect Rodgers more in the second half and limit the damage, but Green Bay’s defense protected its lead.

Scoring summary

Q1, 12:50 remaining

Packers 7, Vikings 0

Jamaal Williams catches a 15-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kicks PAT) [4 plays, 75 yards, 2:10 time of possession]

Out of the gate: The Vikings allowed three explosive plays on the first four snaps of the game, including a 39-yard pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams on the first snap of the game. Green Bay finished the drive with a 15-yard run by Aaron Jones and the screen pass to Williams.

Q1, 3:18 remaining

Packers 14, Vikings 0

Geronimo Allison catches a 12-yard pass from Rodgers (Crosby kicks PAT) [11 plays, 63 yards, 5:58 time of possession]

Bad conversion rate: The Vikings allowed three third-down conversions on the possession, including gains of 14 on third-and-6, 21 on a third-and-5 and 6 on a third-and-4 from the 13. Minnesota also didn’t make Green Bay pay for a false start penalty that set up a second-and-goal from the 12.

Game Photos: Vikings Take on the Packers View images as the Vikings take on the Packers at Lambeau Field during Week 2.

Q2, 14:16 remaining

Packers 21, Vikings 0

Jones rushes for a 2-yard touchdown (Crosby kicks PAT) [4 plays, 33 yards, 2:00]

Short field: The Packers quickly capitalized after recovering a fumble by Kirk Cousins at the Minnesota 33, reaching the end zone after a 15-yard pass to Adams and runs of 9 and 2 by Jones that bookended a 7-yard gain on a pass to Williams.

Q2, 14:00 remaining

Packers 21, Vikings 7

Dalvin Cook rushes for a 75-yard touchdown (Dan Bailey kicks PAT) [2 plays, 75 yards, 0:16]

Breakaway: Cook was able to get to the second level and reach another gear, running away from Packers defenders for the longest rush of his career.

Q2, 0:51 remaining

Packers 21, Vikings 10

Bailey kicks a 31-yard field goal [6 plays, 60 yards, 0:42]

Costly penalty: One snap after Chad Beebe caught a short pass and turned it into a 61-yard gain to the Green Bay 3, what appeared to be a touchdown catch by Stefon Diggs was challenged by officials. After review, officials flagged Cook for offensive pass interference.

Q3, 9:12 remaining

Packers 21, Vikings 16

Diggs catches a 45-yard touchdown pass from Cousins (Bailey extra point is blocked) [3 plays, 42 yards, 0:55]

Good and bad: The Vikings overcame an offensive pass interference penalty against Adam Thielen on a throw to the end zone with a post route to Diggs, who caught the ball in traffic. Diggs, however, took off his helmet in celebration, resulting in a 15-yard.

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Vikings List of Inactive Players Against the Packers on Sunday

By Chris Corso

The Vikings have released the list of players who will not dress on Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Packers.

Minnesota will be without three starters in Week 2. Cornerback Mackensie Alexander, linebacker Ben Gedeon and guard Pat Elflein are all inactive. Elflein and Gedeon had been listed as questionable on Friday.

Alexander, who is the team's starter when Minnesota is in its nickel package, was ruled out in Friday's injury report.

Second-year cornerback Mike Hughes was ruled inactive Sunday morning after being listed as doubtful on Friday.

The team announced Dakota Dozier will start in place of Elflein, and Eric Wilson will start in place of Gedeon.

The full list of players that will not be active for Sunday's Border Battle is below:

CB Mackensie Alexander

CB Mike Hughes

T Oli Udoh

DT Jalyn Holmes

DT Armon Watts

G Pat Elflein

LB Ben Gedeon

Starter Changes

Dakota Dozier for Elflein at G

Eric Wilson for Gedeon at LB

The notable player for the Packers who is active on Sunday is starting left tackle David Bakhtiari.

The following players are listed as inactive for the Green Bay Packers:

WR Darrius Shepherd

RB Dexter Williams

CB Ka'dar Hollman

LB Oren Burks

G Cole Madison

G Lucas Patrick

DL Kingsley Keke PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/16/19

Monday Morning Mailbag: Examining the Ups and Downs of Sunday's Performance By The Offense, More

By Mike Wobschall

Do you have a comment or question? Send it to the vikings.com Mailbag! Every Monday we’ll post several comments and/or questions as part of the vikings.com Monday Morning Mailbag. Although we can’t post every comment or question, we will reply to every question submitted.

Click here to submit a comment or question to the mailbag. Remember to include your name and town on the email.

Kirk Cousins is taking A LOT of heat for his performance, especially the interception in the end zone. What needs to happen to correct these mistakes? The pass protection wasn't great but there were quite a few times I felt he held onto the ball for too long. Case in point: the strip sack. Yes, there was pressure but it was about five seconds from snap to fumble. The greats get the ball out in two-to-three seconds, no? Something needs to change before it gets too late. Week 17 comes fast! -- Kyle Alexander

Correcting the mistake of the interception in the end zone is pretty straight forward and it’s also something Cousins can self-correct. He’s a prideful player and he’s hard on himself, so I’m sure he’s already diagnosed that error and knows to make a different decision next time. As for getting rid of the ball quicker, I’ll agree it’s a good idea to be in the habit of getting the football out of your hand quickly. With that being said, one thing that makes Aaron Rodgers so great is he’s willing to hold onto the ball, break the pocket to buy time and then hit a receiver down the field. So there’s some good and some bad to being the kind of quarterback who is willing to hold onto the ball and take a hit despite pressuring bearing down on you.

The running game was working during the game. We had the ball on the eight-yard line. Why throw? Try the run first? -- Jason Schweisthal

It’s hard for me to fault the play call on the interception at the end of the game. The proper decision on that play would’ve been to throw the ball away, which would’ve made it 2nd and goal from the Green Bay 8. Jason is correct, though, that the running game was working on that drive. Up to the point of the interception, the Vikings had run it six times for 41 yards on that drive. So it would be understandable for offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski to continue running it in that spot. However, head coach Mike Zimmer did say in his postgame press conference that Green Bay was having trouble aligning and the Vikings thought they were going to catch Green Bay in a disadvantageous personnel grouping and scheme on that play. It didn’t work out, Green Bay made a play and the rest is history.

One thing that really upsets me about fans is that they are so quick to blame the quarterback. I get that Kirk didn't have the best game ever, but it's not like he's the only one to shoulder the blame. The way I see it, this team didn't look as prepared as they should have been and had to overcome some of the early errors. All in all I still think this team has the talent and the coaching to get to where they want to be. I have been a fan for 20 years now and I can feel this team is about to do something amazing. -- Jorge Houston, TX

Shouldering more blame than any other player goes with the territory of being a quarterback in this League, especially a handsomely-paid quarterback. Cousins was certainly not the only player who would like to have one or two (or more) plays back. Diggs had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and he dropped a potential catch on a cross route at a key juncture of the game. Dan Bailey missed a kick and had another blocked. Football is a team game and coaches like to remind everyone that you win as a team and lose as a team. But don’t forget: this is a quarterback-driven league and they are traditionally going to get more credit than is appropriate credit for wins and more blame than is appropriate after wins.

When did the League start assessing a penalty when they are reviewing a score? The penalty called on the field after Stefon Diggs’ touchdown was for down-field blocking. I know a coach can challenge pass interference, but that wasn’t the call. So why was it enforced? -- John Stephens

That change was made this summer. For 2019 on a probationary basis, all pass interference (defensive and offensive) penalties and non-called penalties are reviewable. The Diggs play that was nullified was a touchdown, and all scores are automatically reviewed. So once that play was reviewed, any aspect of a play that is reviewable is scrutinized during the process. Obviously, the officials saw what they thought was conclusive evidence that Cook was blocking downfield and that the ball was in the air, which necessitates a pass interference call, which was applied to the play during the review process.

I can’t wait for next week’s game against the Raiders because it’s going to tell Vikings fans what type of team we have…a team that believes in all the hype they were reading or a team that is going to come out fired up and mad because we lost this game. We had plenty of chances to win it, even with all the mistakes and bad calls. Skol! -- John McGuire Lone Pine, CA

I appreciate the positive outlook on the loss in Green Bay and what next week’s game against the Oakland Raiders means for the Vikings. But I must also say I believe we already know what kind of team we have with the 2019 Vikings. This is a group that played like its hair was on fire last week, jumping out to a 28-0 lead at one point. Then this week, we saw a team that was put behind the eight ball early and then we saw that team respond with tenacity to hold Green bay scoreless for the rest of the game and methodically work its way to reduce the deficit to five points. So I feel good about the competitive integrity of this squad. I expect them to bounce back in a big way next week in Oakland. Hopefully the big effort is enough to come away with a win.