The Minnesota Vikings found a way to squeeze out a win over the Chicago Bears by a score of 19-13.
The game itself was relatively close throughout, but the Vikings did have a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. They couldn’t get anything going on offense in the fourth quarter and it nearly cost the Vikings the game.
There are a lot of ways to look at the game both positive and negative. The reality here is that the Vikings are 2-4 and not in last place in the division.
There were plenty of standout performances on Sunday and we took a look at the studs and duds.
Stud: WR K.J. Osborn
With Justin Jefferson out for the next four days, the Vikings needed someone to rely on at wide receiver. Jordan Addison got a touchdown to end the first half, but K.J. Osborn stepped up in a big way.
It was the little things that Osborn did that helped him stand out. From creating separation to securing the ball in tight windows and earning yards after the catch, Osborn stepped up in a big way for the Vikings. He finished the game with four receptions for 48 yards.
Dud: Kirk Cousins
This was a disappointing game from Cousins. He didn’t just throw an interception, but his poor lateral nearly cost the Vikings as well. What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is how conservative he was playing.
Cousins looked to be locked into his checkdowns. When he did have a clean pocket, there was little to no aggression in attacking down the field. Yes, Justin Jefferson didn’t play, but this Bears defense isn’t what you would call a quality unit. Disappointing game for Cousins when the Vikings needed him to step up.
Stud: Jordan Hicks
There were a lot of questions about why the Vikings chose to keep Hicks. He was okay in 2022 but it looked like his age was catching up to him. This season, he looks like a completely different player.
Hicks forced two takeaways on Sunday afternoon against the Bears, catching an interception Willie Mays style and a scoop-and-score that ended up being the game-winning touchdown. With the trade deadline coming up, Hicks could be a nice trade asset for the Vikings.
Dud: Alexander Mattison
After spending his first four seasons backing up Dalvin Cook, Mattison got his opportunity to be the starting running back going into 2023. It’s been an up and down process for Mattison and it wasn’t his best showing on Sunday.
Mattison finished the game with 44 yards on 18 carries which in itself isn’t good, but he also struggled finding the correct hole to run through. Mattison also struggled in pass protection, allowing Cousins to get hit which led to an interception.
Stud: Danielle Hunter
If you ever wondered why the Vikings gave Danielle Hunter a raise, Sunday’s game is exactly why. He was a dominant force from start to finish making both Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent’s lives difficult.
He notched two sacks on the day, which ties him with T.J. Watt for most in the National Football League this season. Hunter could be moved at the trade deadline and with a performance like this, the compensation required to get him could likely have gone up on Sunday.
Dud: T.J. Hockenson
As I stated earlier, Justin Jefferson being out meant that the Vikings needed players to step up. The main player you would expect to do so is Hockenson, who the Vikings gave a big contract to at the beginning of the season.
Hockenson has done quite a few things well but he hasn’t made the difficult catches the last two weeks nor been a massive difference maker. He has caught 77% of his targets which is a good thing, but the lack of explosive plays has been an issue.
Stud: Brian Flores
The Vikings defense was desperate last season for someone to come in and put them in positions to succeed. Ed Donatell didn’t do that in the slightest, but Brian Flores has.
On Sunday, his defense was excellent. They did allow 303 yards, but three takeaways and 13 total points allowed are both solid marks. They came up big when they had to and it allowed the Vikings to get the win.
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