Colts @ Vikings
Final Score: Colts 12, Vikings 1o
Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
Yet another uninspiring defeat for the Minnesota Vikings, who rolled out a few more starters than the zero they turned out last week to no avail. The Colts were just a little less woeful across the gridiron as they eeked out a narrow win that will leave Frank Reich with more questions and worries than anything concretely positive. Mike Zimmer is in exactly the same boat.
Kirk Cousins made a brief appearance for a couple of drives in the first quarter but failed to convert two passing attempts on third down to move the sticks – a familiar issue for the quarterback since he arrived in Minneapolis. Sam Ehlinger and Jacob Eason were both horrendous as the Colts continue to look for a starter in case Carson Wentz is not fit to start Week 1. They may need to look at other options, pronto.
Adam Thielen limped off after the Vikings’ first drive and was held out for the rest of the game. It looked like a dead leg but that situation is one to watch. Justin Jefferson didn’t play any part in today’s game and without these two the Vikings’ offense looked decidedly non-existent through the air.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Sam Ehlinger: 8/13, 70 yards, 2 INT, fumble | 2 carries, 11 yards
Jacob Eason: 16/27, 132 yards | 1 carry, 3 yards
In a reversal of last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers, rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger got the start and was then followed by second-year signal-caller Jacob Eason. Ehlinger looked ragged from the start, rushing his mechanics and failing to look beyond his first read. It was only a matter of time before a mistake ensued – Parris Campbell tipping a high pass into the arms of Vikings linebacker Troy Dye, who took it back for a pick-6.
TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE!!!@Tdye15dbTroy
📺: @NFLNetwork | @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/8gKsk1U9X1
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 22, 2021
The throw for Ehlinger’s second interception was even worse. Firing a high ball towards the chest and neck area of poor Ashton Dulin, who could only watch it bounce off him and up into the arms of the Vikings defense.
Teamwork! @cambeezy_ @fat_mac34 @MylesDorn1
📺: @NFL | @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/TslJpiZGfq
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 22, 2021
Eason looked equally as lost in this game, failing to find any rhythm in a game lacking overall quality. He was mightily lucky to get away with this errant throw under pressure.
Armon Watts and Stephen Weatherly meet at the QB and Troy Dye nearly gets his second INT of the night pic.twitter.com/NvfSk4LNsr
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 22, 2021
Hurry back, Carson.
Running Back
Marlon Mack: 3 carries, 10 yards
Nyheim Hines: 6 carries, 17 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 18 yards
Jordan Wilkins: 5 carries, 20 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 2 yards
Benny LeMay: 11 carries, 13 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 16 yards
Deon Jackson: 4 carries, 12 yards, 1 FUM | 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
There was no run out for number one back Jonathan Taylor, which suggests the former Wisconsin all-purpose back is due to start with a heavy workload to start the season. Veteran Marlon Mack, fresh off Achilles surgery, led the backfield from the start, and along with Nyheim Hines, they managed to work the middle of the field well against linebackers that struggle in coverage. Hines, now in his fourth year in the NFL, needs to stand out further to edge out more touches in this crowded backfield. Here’s an example of what we need to see more of for PPR fantasy production.
https://gfycat.com/VillainousNaturalBoa
Drives stalled well before the red zone, however, limiting the Colts to field goals for scores all day long. Jordan Wilkins ran well under limited opportunities but he isn’t really a relevant fantasy piece right now.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Zach Pascal: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 31 yards
Michael Pittman Jr.: 2 targets, 1 reception, 7 yards
Parris Campbell: 2 targets
Mo Allie-Cox: 1 target
Dezmon Patmon: 5 targets, 4 reception, 60 yards
Jordan Thomas: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards
Farrod Green: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards
Mike Strachan: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Tyler Vaughns: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
DeMichael Harris: 2 targets, 1 reception, 3 yards
Kylen Granson: 4 targets
Ashton Dulin: 2 targets
The lone bright spot for this offense was the handiwork of veteran Zach Pascal. The hardworking depth receiver was all over the field making plays and showed much better hustle than any other receiver out there on both teams.
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The longest throw of the day from either team came from Eason on a well-run route by the Colts’ sixth-round pick from 2020, Dezmon Patmon.
https://gfycat.com/InferiorImpureGartersnake
Minnesota Vikings
Quarterback
Kirk Cousins: 5/7, 23 yards, sack | 1 carry, 9 yards
Jake Browning: 6/15, 82 yards, sack
Kellen Mond: 6/12, 61 yards, fumble | 3 carries, 8 yards
Kirk Cousins saw his first preseason action in this one, mainly throwing short and looking to stay within the middle of the field. It looked like a taste of live snaps, it felt like a taste of live snaps, and clearly, the offense wasn’t giving anything away. The key to Cousins stepping up to the next level relies on a better play from his offensive line, and his own decision-making on third down. The offensive line certainly looked more assured yesterday against a talented interior defensive line lead by DeForest Buckner.
Ezra Cleveland at LG looking for work 💪 pic.twitter.com/vcmhb7bp9T
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) August 22, 2021
However, on his second drive of the day Cousins took a bad sack deep in Colts territory on first down as rookie Kwity Paye beat Rashod Hill on the blindside to drop the Vikings quarterback hard.
KWITY PAYE. 🚫
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/BXJvh1VM50
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 22, 2021
The two failed third-down conversions were a worry, however. Here, Cousins stares down his first read (a slant into Adam Thielen in the slot) and fires the ball into tight coverage. Cousins needs to find more ways to extend plays like this and explore his secondary options by moving out of the pocket.
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And on this one, Cousins wastes some fantastic pass protection by failing to push the ball beyond the first-down marker. Instead, he takes the safe option to second-year tight end, Brandon Dillon.
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It is likely that Jake Browning will fail to make this team after another disappointing showing. Rookie Kellen Mond looked limited once again with his reps and clearly needs a season with this team to adjust to the NFL.
Running Back
Alexander Mattison: 2 targets, 2 reception, 16 yards
Ameer Abdullah: 6 carries, 35 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 6 yards
CJ Ham: 1 carry, 9 yards
Jake Bargas: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
AJ Rose Jr.: 6 carries, 10 yards | 1 target
Ameer Abdullah handled the majority of the work on the ground but Alexander Mattison saw his first reps of the year by catching two passes out of the backfield. Mattison is slated to back up Dalvin Cook once again this season and is one of the more attractive handcuffs in the league. Cook, as expected, did not take the field for this game.
Last week’s bright spark in the Vikings offense, AJ Rose Jr failed to live up to his 100-yard rush day last Sunday.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Adam Thielen: 1 target
Irv Smith Jr.: 2 targets, 1 reception, 3 yards
Chad Beebe: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 47 yards
KJ Osborn: 2 targets, 2 reception, 27 yards
Myron Mitchell: 1 target, 1 reception, 22 yards
Whop Philyor: 3 targets, 1 reception, 19 yards
Dan Chisena: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Brandon Dillon: 3 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Zach Davidson: 3 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Shane Zylstra: 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 2 targets
Warren Jackson: 1 target
Another forgettable outing for this receiving corps as the Vikings again asked little of their quarterbacks outside of first-down markers. Irv Smith Jr looks to be set for an expanded role with the departure of stalwart Kyle Rudolph in the offseason. The big tight end out of Alabama has fantastic hands and the Vikings have underutilized him over the past two seasons. He’s going to need more to work with than little pop-outs on the sideline, however.
https://gfycat.com/amusedwebbedfirefly
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
Test
Great read thank you!