Minnesota Vikings: Studs and duds from Week 16 loss to Saints
Minnesota Vikings studs and duds after the Saints ran wild over them in Week 16.
The Minnesota Vikings came into Week 16 of the 2020 NFL season looking to get back on track and try and start a run to end the year off on a high note.
While coming into the game with a very slim chance to reach the NFC Playoffs at the end of the regular season, Minnesota looked to erase a two-game losing streak while taking on one of the top teams in the conference to this point in the year.
In the lone Christmas Day game throughout the NFL, the Vikings hit the road to take on the New Orleans Saints on the road in New Orleans.
In the game, the Saints offense exploded early and often, taking down the Vikings 52-33 in a game that combined for a total of 85 points on national television.
To open up the contest in the first half, New Orleans didn’t waste anytime jumping out to a lead on its home field, holding a 14-7 advantage after the first quarter while grabbing a 24-14 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, Minnesota managed to make things a bit closer but New Orleans ultimately pulled away with a 19-point victory. The Vikings scored 19 points in the final two quarters, while the Saints tallied 28 of their own to claim victory on Christmas Day.
With the NFC showdown between the Vikings and Saints now over with in Week 16, let’s take a look back at some studs and duds that appeared in the game for Minnesota.
Stud: Dalvin Cook
The first stud for Minnesota in Week 16 was a player who has stood out all season long on the offensive side of the ball for the Vikings, that being star running back Dalvin Cook. Cook continued his strong 2020 season on the road on Friday against the Saints, tallying a total of 73 yards and one touchdown out of the backfield with a total of 15 carries.
As a total unit, Minnesota managed to run the ball just 17 times for a total of 90 yards and two touchdowns. Other than Cook, Mike Boone tallied the other rushing touchdown for the Vikings. Cook once again stepped up to try and lead the Vikings in what ended up being an uphill battle against the Saints in Week 16.
Dud: Defending Alvin Kamara
The biggest storyline from the game was the impressive performance from Saints running back Alvin Kamara and his record night on the ground running the ball for New Orleans.
In the game, Minnesota’s defense couldn’t do anything to stop Kamara for four quarters, seeing Kamara run for a total of 165 yards and six touchdowns on 22 carries. Those six rushing touchdowns tie a NFL record for the most in a single game in league history.
Overall, New Orleans was able to run the ball 45 times for 264 yards and an eye-popping seven rushing touchdowns, with Taysom Hill recording the other rushing touchdown outside of Kamara.
Part of the success from Kamara came from what New Orleans was doing on offense, but most of it was the lack of talent and just execution from Minnesota’s defense.