NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 09: Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Riley Reiff (71) looks on during an NFL preseason game between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings on August 9, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. So far, Week 2 has been a different story, largely because nobody can block.
If Kirk Cousins gets to only throw 10 passes with perfect protection, the Minnesota Vikings will be tough to beat. Otherwise, it might be a different story.
On Sunday, the Vikings are already down 21-7 early in the second quarter to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Cousins has fumbled while getting hit by three Packers, and it’s easy to see why he might be a bit rattled. Exhibit A:
How do three guys end up on the ground siultaneously? Is this the biggest whiffed cut block of all time? Do they have money on Green Bay? Ridiculous.
While the run blocking in front of Dalvin Cook has been solid, none of that matters if Cousins spends a good portion of his day looking at the Wisconsin sky. After investing $84 million guaranteed in the former Washington Redskins star, Minnesota hasn’t done enough to protect him. Drafting Garrett Bradbury in the first round is a start, but clearly not enough.
Minnesota is trying to adjust to new blocking schemes under assistants Rick Dennison and Gary Kubiak, so it’s understandable to struggle early. Still, this is a horrendous start against the Packers in an important game.