Minnesota Vikings: Studs and duds vs. Raiders in Week 3

Stud: Kirk Cousins

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins needed to have a bounce-back performance in Week 3 against the Oakland Raiders after a bumpy start to the 2019 season. On Sunday at home in Minneapolis, the quarterback ended up putting a nice game together while helping lead his team offensive and to their second win of the regular season.

Cousins finished the game while converting on 15 of his 21 pass attempts to throw for a total of 174 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he didn’t commit a turnover throughout the course of the win.

After an up-and-down start to the regular season through two weeks, it was good to see Cousins get more into a rhythm within the Vikings offense and help Minnesota cruise to its second straight win at home.

Dud: Anthony Barr

The final dud for the Vikings following their Week 3 victory over the Raiders was linebacker Anthony Barr and the fact that he missed the game with an injury after serving as the anchor in the middle of the stellar Minnesota defensive group this season.

Barr, who was limited during practice for a majority of the week leading up to Sunday’s game while dealing with a groin injury, was announced as one of the inactive players for the Vikings just prior to the game at US Bank Stadium.

Barr, who has averaged six tackles per game through two weeks for Minnesota this season, had his absence felt in the game especially when it came to being matched up against the Raiders tight ends in the contest.

It will be important for Minnesota to try and get Barr healthy and back on the field ahead of a big matchup in Chicago next Sunday.