Minnesota Vikings Game Ball: Week 3

Hey, gang! Sorry I’m a bit later than usual on some of the normal post-game stuff. . .real-life commitments and all that. But I’ll start getting back into the swing of things here, starting with this week’s Game Ball!

While the Week 2 pick was a relatively easy one, there are actually a few options to look at this time around. So, let’s stop stalling and have at it, shall we?

Dalvin Cook, RB - I’m starting to think that I’m just going to be able to copy-and-paste Cook’s name into these posts for the rest of the season. Once again, Cook went over the 100-yard mark, and didn’t require a whole lot of carries to do it. His outstanding performance put him into territory that only four other running backs. . .all of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. . .have reached before, and he continues to be the straw that stirs the drink on offense for your Minnesota Vikings.

Eric Kendricks, LB - Obviously, the game that Kendricks had on Sunday wasn’t as flashy as Cook’s was, but man. . .that guy was everywhere against the Raiders. Playing without his usual running mate in Anthony Barr, Kendricks was laying the wood to everything in silver and black. He was devastating in run support, where he was hitting guys and they were staying hit.

Harrison Smith, S - What can we say about Harrison Smith that we haven’t already been saying for seven-plus seasons? He really got the rout started with his interception of Derek Carr that set the Vikings up in plus territory, and spent most of the rest of the afternoon just being Harrison Smith. . .you know, the NFL’s best safety.

Irv Smith Jr., TE - IRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRV! After being largely forgotten in the first two games of the season, people were starting to wonder when the second-round pick would start getting involved in the offense. Well, he got involved in a big way on Sunday, leading the Vikings with 60 yards receiving, and would have had even more if not for a garbage penalty call on a sweet catch-and-run. Maybe the young man is starting to get adjusted to the pro game.

So, those are the candidates that I thought were worthy for this week. Who do you think deserves the Vikings’ Week 3 Game Ball, folks?

Week 1 Game Ball - Anthony Harris

Week 2 Game Ball - Dalvin Cook