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What We Learned This Past Sunday

A tie.

It’s not something any of us wanted, but sure, it’s better than a loss. While the Vikings should have most definitely won this past Sunday, a tie was actually the most just and accurate outcome granted by the football gods given the mistakes and bad calls made by and for these two evenly-matched teams.

While we’ll definitely see Green Bay again down the road, Vikings fans should have a lot to look forward to in the meantime. We learned a lot about this team on Sunday, and most of it was positive. The negative parts have been quickly fixed, which also bodes well for the rest of the season and the franchise’s Super Bowl aspirations.

Let’s take a look at the lessons we’re taking into Week 3.

Kirk Cousins is the Real Deal That the Team Needed

When the squad paid Cousins a boatload of money in the offseason, it raised red flags with many, as it set the tone for the way quarterbacks and players, in general, will get paid moving forward. The resilience, skill, and care that Cousins showed this past Sunday showed that it was worth every penny.

Last season, you could say that the Vikings overachieved since they were a game away from the Super Bowl with third-string QB Case Keenum. It also made it clear that the team was just a quarterback away from being in contention every year.

Cousins was coming off of three straight 4,000 yard seasons in Washington, and he brought some of that success with him this past Sunday when the team needed it. He threw 425 yards, a 2-point conversion, and 4 Touchdowns, leading the team on a stellar comeback to force overtime when they scored 22 points in the 4th quarter.

What was most impressive is that Cousins made the hard throws, took care of the football and remained cool under pressure with very little time in the pocket.

After the game, his teammates heaped huge praise upon him. Dalvin Cook even said that he told Cousins he loved him in the huddle several times throughout the game.

This is a team that enjoys playing together and they’re rallying behind a leader that is earning his keep in every regard.

The Vikings’ Receiving Corps is One of the Most Elite in the NFL

On Instagram, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen clearly appear to have forged a bond that’s bigger than football. Diggs had a post recently that captured the moment in which his daughter hung out with "Uncle Adam" and met Thielen’s son for the first time.

Both wideouts are scrappy underdogs with huge chips on their shoulders, and it’s clear that the friendship they built by pushing each other is paying huge dividends on Sundays.

Diggs has lit it up with big play after big play in the clutch, while Thielen is as sure-handed as they come and also manages to come up with huge catches whenever the team needs him. This one-two punch is far from a fluke, as they’re giving defenses fits week in and week out.

The arrival of Cousins has turned it up a notch, and everyone is on the same page. Cousins even got Laquon Treadwell his first touchdown reception, though Treadwell put himself back in the hot seat with two huge drops that hampered the Vikings shot at winning on Sunday.

When you throw Kyle Rudolph in the mix, along with emerging pass-catching weapon tight end David Morgan, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo should be licking his chops when putting together game plans.

The Running Game Needs to Pick Up

Dalvin Cook’s injury in his rookie season was a big blow for the team. They have high hopes to use him to his full potential now and in the future.

So far, the run game has been an area of weakness that the team will want to shore up. As great as the passing game has been, it’ll be even more unstoppable if the Vikings are able to get Cook involved more meaningfully.

Latavius Murray seems to have a better handle on moving the ball down the field right now, as he seems to be having the most impactful carries. The Vikings might do well to keep using them as a one-two punch as Cook looks to get back to his prior form.

Minnesota is Too Good to Have Bad Kicking

The kicking game was definitely the big story this past Sunday.

In the offseason, the Vikings drafted Daniel Carlson in the 5th round to be their kicker of the future. They further gave him a vote of confidence in the preseason, cutting kicker Kai Forbath and naming Carlson the starter after their position battle.

That’s where the wheels immediately fell off, as Carlson began missing kicks in preseason games that were incredible makeable. Zimmer made it clear that Carlson needs to get it together because the team is too good to have that area of glaring weakness.

Carlson missed three field goals this past Sunday, including one to end the game, which would have given the Vikings the win over their bitter rivals in overtime. The writing was on the wall, particularly since the Vikings franchise has been snake bitten by kicking woes, to include many huge misses by Blair Walsh in recent seasons.

The franchise fixed their problem quickly. It was announced on Monday that they signed Dan Bailey, the second most accurate kicker in NFL history. They’ll need Bailey’s leg to help shore up the special teams unit as the season chugs along.

With an offense that moves the chains and a defense that keeps the Vikings in every game, a kicker that can put points on the board and hit the tough ones under pressure is the icing on the cake.

Taking all of these matters into account, the rest of the season should be exciting, no matter how it shakes out. Barring any injuries, the team should be in contention for winning it all down to the end. As the ride shapes up, key in on these points as they develop.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.