Dalvin Cook successfully executed the stop-running-in-order-to-waste-time play in the Minnesota Vikings' walk-off win against the Green Bay Packers. He slowed down on a 12-yard run that put the Vikings inside the 10-yard line instead of trying to plow through the defense and score.
Cook's reasoning for doing so? There would have been over a minute left on the clock for Aaron Rodgers to try a game-winning drive.
Dalvin Cook said he could’ve scored on his last carry with roughly 80 seconds left, but pulled up.
Cook: “I wanted to score so bad but I knew I couldn’t give Aaron Rodgers back the football.”
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) November 21, 2021
Cook's decision to not let his fans celebrate with time on the clock against Rodgers proved to be the right one. Minnesota was able to run down the clock with a few quarterback kneels, allowing Greg Joseph to make the 29-yard field goal as time expired.
Rodgers had already worked some magic by tying the game near the end of the fourth quarter with a 75-yard strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns while completing 23 of 33 passes. Prohibiting him from seeing the field at the end of the game was the right idea, and Cook did a perfect job of making sure that didn't happen.
Kirk Cousins recorded 341 passing yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers, though he was extremely close to getting picked off by Darnell Savage on the Vikings' last drive and fumbled once. Justin Jefferson torched the Packers' defense to the tune of 169 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Cook tallied 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as well as 29 receiving yards.
The Vikings are 5-5 on the season after this win, which helps them keep their playoff hopes alive.
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