Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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"It's just difficult because, you know, offenses take so good care of the football that it doesn't happen that much," Zimmer said of takeaways. "In order to do that, typically you're getting pressure on the quarterback and he's making poor decisions or there's tipped balls or some kind of ball disruption, punching the ball out or something like that."
The Vikings recorded a season-high four takeaways Sunday against the Jaguars, as Harrison Smith and Cameron Dantzler had interceptions. Dantzler and Jordan Brailford also forced and recovered fumbles against Jacksonville.
But the Vikings offense also committed a pair of turnovers, too. Both were costly, and both occurred on the first play of each quarter in the second half.
Kirk Cousins threw a pick-six on the opening play of the third quarter. He and Dalvin Cook combined to botch a handoff when Minnesota's offense was at the Jacksonville 1-yard line. The Jaguars recovered the fumble, but the Vikings defense soon produced a safety due to an Ifeadi Odenigbo sack in the end zone.
Craig noted that the Vikings would be wise to win the turnover battle Sunday against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, and in the final four games of the regular season.
Next up: A Buccaneers team that's plus-4 in turnover ratio with 20 takeaways and 16 giveaways, including 11 interceptions and two pick-sixes by a fella named Brady.
Tampa Bay's turnover margin is tied for the ninth-best among all NFL teams.
Rudolph welcomes Kendricks to Vikings MOY club
Eric Kendricks is the Vikings Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
The NFL announced the nominees from all 32 teams Thursday morning, with Kendricks earning the Vikings nomination because of his community efforts on childhood hunger and helping those impacted by the justice system.
This is Kendricks' first MOY nomination, and he was praised by Kyle Rudolph, who was Minnesota's nominee (and a MOY finalist in 2019) for his constant work in the Twin Cities.