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In Week 14 on Thursday Night Football, the Minnesota Vikings came out rolling as they built a huge lead against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half. Though the visiting team attempted to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter, Mike Zimmer's squad was able to do just enough to secure an impressive 36-28 victory.
With the much-needed win, the Vikings improved to a 6-7 record. They are currently on the brink of entering the playoff picture, though they will have to finish the season strong to secure a spot.
After getting back to the win column, the Vikings are now aiming to get to .500 when they visit the Chicago Bears for a crucial Week 15 matchup. With that said, here are three takeaways from Minnesota's Week 14 victory over Pittsburgh.
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Minnesota Vikings Week 14 Takeaways
3. Kirk Cousins needs to do a better job of orchestrating the offense
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins must have let out a huge sigh of relief after his team still came out with the win despite his bad performance. It certainly wasn't a good day for the veteran as he threw for 216 yards on an inefficient 14-of-31 passing. The Steelers' secondary also got the better of Cousins by snatching two interceptions.
With his inaccuracy, the passing game was depleted, with top receiver Justin Jefferson limited to 79 yards on seven catches and a touchdown. However, another pass catcher in K.J. Osborn did have a valuable contribution to the offensive attack, tallying 83 yards on three catches and a touchdown against the Steelers.
The Vikings were lucky that their pass-rush defense and running game were on full display, which allowed them to escape with the dub. However, Cousins will surely have to look back at this game and learn from his errors, especially as they are set to play crucial games in the weeks to come.
2. Minnesota's pass rush was stellar
On Sunday, opposing QB Ben Roethlisberger couldn't get any rhythm going. He absorbed a total of seven hits and five sacks throughout the game. Several Vikings defenders in Eric Kendricks, Harrison Smith, Michael Pierce, Sheldon Richardson, and Armon Watts all had a hand in limiting Roethlisberger in the pocket.
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Prior to the game, the Steelers were leading the league with a total of 37 sacks for the season. Thanks to their output in Week 14, the Vikings were able to climb up the leaderboard by increasing their season tally to 41, thus becoming the new league leader in sacks upon heading to Week 15.
Surely enough, the impressive performance of the pass-rushing unit allowed the Vikings to get away with the win despite the late comeback bid of the Steelers. Minnesota will need to continue to pressure the quarterback to win games.
1. Dalvin Cook's explosion allowed the Vikings to nab the much-needed win
Prior to the game, star running back Dalvin Cook was deemed questionable due to a dislocated left shoulder. There had even initially been pessimism about his chances of playing in this game when he first suffered the injury and then missed Week 13.
However, Cook turned many heads when he decided to suit up for the Vikings in Week 14. Minnesota was fortunate that the two-time Pro Bowler was able to see action, as he carried the team offensively when the impact of the passing game was diminished.
Against the Steelers, Cook was a monster with 205 yards on 27 carries and two scores for Mike Zimmer's squad. His elusiveness and power on the ground were on full display as the opposing defenders failed to contain him all game long.
Beyond his great numbers, perhaps the most impressive thing about Cook was how he was able to play at such a high level despite not being in full condition. One can only wonder how much more damage he can produce on the field when in the pink of health.
Dalvin Cook's Week 14 performance proved that the Vikings truly need his high level of production if they want to win their upcoming games and successfully secure a spot in the NFC playoff race this season.
