Vikings Find First Win in Houston

The Vikings played a very different game today then weeks past. Lets hope this continues!
Minnesota Vikings 31 Houston Texans 23
Minnesota:
QB:
K. Cousins 16/22 260 yds 1 TD 127.1 rtg
RB:
D. Cook 27 car 130 yds 4.8 avg 2 TD 15 long
A. Mattison 7 car 17 yds 2.4 avg 1 TD 4 long
WR:
A. Thielen 8 rec 114 yds 14.3 avg 1 TD 
J. Jefferson 4 rec 103 yds 25.8 avg
K. Rudolph 2 rec 27 yds 13.5 avg
K: 
D. Bailey 1/2 FG (31) 4/4 XP
DEF:
D. Chisena 1 fumble recovery
Y. Ngakoue 1 sack
DJ Wonnum 1 sack

Game Summary:
Overall today was a much better day then even last week. It seemed for most of the game that the entire team was clicking on all cylinders. If it wasn't for the defensive struggles I would say this team looks like a playoff team. I am still not convinced they have turned it around but this is major progress.
The first half the entire team played really well. I was the most impressed with the defensive play. This defense was playing like 2017. It was shutting down Houston more then not, and if it let them go past the 50 it would not let them go any further. This is where this defense needs to be every week. Now the second half was different. A huge part of that is that veteran S Harrison Smith was ejected towards the end of the 2nd quarter for targeting a Houston tight end. This devastated this young defense I think. Zimmer had to send in George Iloka, the 6 year veteran safety lifted off the practice squad yesterday, to fill Smith's role. The kind of presence that Smith commands is what was missing the second half. Fortunately the offense was firing on all cylinders today so they shredded Houston's defense and overcame the sub-par second half defensive play.
Speaking of offense, this offense had a field day today! Cook had 2 touchdowns, Mattison had a touchdown and Cousins threw a touchdown to Thielen! Today looked nothing like last week even. Cousins looked calm and comfortable today, much different then last week.
Overall it was a great game. Now I will need to see a good performance in Seattle next week to give me any semblance of confidence. I still do not believe this team is a playoff team.

Injury Report
Both CB's Mike Hughes and Kris Boyd were out again this weekend. DE Danielle Hunter remained on injured reserve this week so the injury is still bothering to not activate him.

Standings Update
Since the Vikings won their first game of the season I think its time for a division standings update. The Packers now lead the division outright at 3-0 since the Bears lost today against the Colts. The Packers play on Monday Night Football tomorrow night against the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions lost today as well so the Vikings are now tied with them for 3rd place in the division at 1-3.

Up Next
Now the Vikings face a very difficult game when they travel to Seattle for Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is on October 11th at 7:20 PM CT.

#SKOL