Vikings Lose Close Game against Tennessee

Well, on the bright side at least we didn't see a terrible offense.
Tennessee Titans 31 Minnesota Vikings 30
Minnesota:
QB: 
K. Cousins 16/27 251 yds 3 TD 2 INT 96.4 rtg
RB: 
D. Cook 22 car 181 yds 8.2 avg 1 TD 39 long 1 fumble lost
A. Mattison 8 car 27 yds 3.4 avg 15 long
WR:
J. Jefferson 7 rec 175 yds 25.0 avg 1 TD
A. Thielen 3 rec 29 yds 9.7 avg 1 TD
K. Rudolph 2 rec 11 yds 5.5 avg 1 TD
DEF:
H. Smith 1 INT
Y. Ngakoue 1 sack
K:
D. Bailey 1/2 FG (41) 3/3 XP

Game Summary:
Overall the Vikings played much better then the previous two weeks combined. The defense impressed me quite a bit today. They were able to hold the Titans to 3-13 on 3rd downs! This was much better then the previous two weeks combined. In fact, I was more impressed with this young defense then the veteran offense. The defense was also able to hold the Titans to 2-4 in the red zone (both missed attempts were field goals).
The offense had a better week then last week. I was very impressed with the play calling for most of the game. We were definitely more run-first today. That is where we need to be with a running back like Dalvin Cook. We let him loose today and look what we got: 181 yds and a TD! That is what needs to happen every week. We pay him like a big time star so its time we give him the carries to supply it. On the other spectrum of the ball, Cousins played much better than last week. He tossed 3 touchdowns today, all to different receivers. He did throw 2 picks, but I wouldn't really consider his last pick a true interception because it was on 4th down in the final seconds of a crunch time drive. Hopefully these picks will go down. Cousins threw 6 all year last year and he already has 7 in three games.
Lets move on to more positive things. Rookie WR Justin Jefferson had a career day today! This is going to be an interesting season if this is what we will see week by week from him. He was the undisputed number 1 receiver for the Vikings today with 7 catches for 175 yds and his first career touchdown! Also that 175 yds is the most by a Vikings rookie since Randy Moss back in 1998! Adam Thielen also pitched in with a few catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. His lower production the last couple games brings some serious questions to mind. I am assuming he is being double covered on every snap, but I had thought he was a good enough receiver to rise above that but who knows. Could be nothing. Kyle Rudolph had a touchdown today and that was about as notable as he was in the receiving game.
But ultimately, it was the offense that lost the game for the Vikings. The defense did allow that last field goal, but I would much rather see 3 points go up on the board then a touchdown. If the offense was able to produce some yards even to field goal range in the last 2 drives in the final 5 minutes of the game the team would most likely have pulled out the win. In order to win close games like this, our veteran offense has to show the rest of the team that they are capable of playing through the pressure. They came up short today. Even though Cousins played well I still think they need to start planning for after Cousins because he shouldn't be here much longer.

Injury Report
Earlier this week the Vikings placed linebackers Anthony Barr and Troy Dye on IR. Barr will be out for the rest of the season, whereas I believe that Dye's injury will allow him to come back in 4 weeks. 
This was the last week that DE Danielle Hunter is required to remain on IR. He is eligible to return this coming week at Houston. Look for updates this week on his injury. 
Also this past week, CB's Mike Hughes and 2nd round pick Cameron Dantzler were inactive for today's game. We will be looking for them to return for next game in Houston.

Up Next
The schedule does not get any easier for this winless Vikings squad. They will travel to Houston to take on the winless, yet talented, Texans team. Kickoff is next Sunday, October 4th at 12 PM CT.

#Skol