The Minnesota Vikings are absolutely rolling, stomping the Packers 17-0 at halftime, and the return of Kirk Cousins is looking like the spark they desperately needed. Cousins, who just got to the team last week, has been lighting it up, putting on a clinic that Green Bay simply has no answer for.
Cousins is Back in Control
Kirk Cousins came out firing, throwing for 126 yards and a touchdown in a first half that was all purple and gold. This guy clearly hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 10-of-17 already, making huge plays when it counts. His first touchdown was a total dime, a 38-yard bomb to Myles Price on a monstrous third-and-23. Can you believe that? Third-and-long and he still makes it happen! Then, after a bizarre sequence where an interception was overturned because Cousins’ knee was down for a sack before Lukas Van Ness picked him off, he bounced right back. He hit Tai Felton for a 24-yard gain on third-and-15, setting up Aaron Brooks for a 1-yard touchdown run. Price has three catches for 45 yards and that huge score, while Felton has three receptions for 33 yards. Jordan Mason is grinding it out on the ground with seven carries for 26 yards.
Absolute Dominance on Both Sides
This isn’t just about Cousins, though he’s a huge part of it. This whole Vikings team is just flat-out dominating. Get this: since late in the third quarter of their Week 1 game against these very Packers, Minnesota has outscored Green Bay a staggering 46-0. That’s not a typo, forty-six to nothing! They outgained the Packers 170 to 57 in the first half alone, forced two massive turnovers, and sacked Jordan Love five times. Five! Harrison Smith snagged an interception from Love at the Minnesota 18, completely shutting down a potential Packers drive. Then Andrew Van Ginkel ripped the ball away from tight end Mark Redman at the Green Bay 10, setting up another Vikings score. This defense is playing with fire.
Packers’ Nightmare Half
For Green Bay, this first half has been a total disaster. Jordan Love is struggling, going just 7-of-12 for 72 yards and that critical interception. Their offense can’t get anything going. Wide receiver Matthew Golden has two catches for 30 yards, but also two drops, which now puts him at nine drops for the season. That’s a brutal stat, no way around it. After the fumble from Mark Redman, the Packers’ field goal drive was a horrendous minus-6 yards, and kicker Trey Smack shanked a 53-yard field goal attempt. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Green Bay.
The Vikings are rolling, and this game is far from over. Green Bay needs a miracle to turn this around. The second half is gonna be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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