Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Running back Ameer Abdullah and tight end Kyle Rudolph also showed up, scoring touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter that allowed the Vikings to have a chance.
Abdullah acknowledged disappointment after the loss but in the same breath stressed the importance of turning the page quickly.
“We’ll go back and watch the film,” Abdullah said. “We’re not going to live in a ‘coulda-shoulda life,’ you know? Because we’ve got to execute in those moments, and I know next week we will.”
Although the Vikings experienced highs and lows offensively, they did find success with screen passes throughout the game.
Cousins connected with Cook late in the game for a 22-yard gain that moved the Vikings inside the Chiefs 10, and Rudolph scored three plays later to give Minnesota a 3-point lead. Fullback C.J. Ham gained 32 yards on screen pass earlier in the game, but the drive ultimately ended in a punt.
Diggs said the screens impacted the game at crucial times.
“Our tight ends, our fullback, C.J. Ham getting going – he was an old running back, so he’s still got it – and just kind of keeping that tempo,” he said. “It was something we worked on during the week, and it’s good to see that coming to fruition.”
Cousins, who also connected with Smith, called the screen game “effective.”
“Screens often put you in the poorhouse or put you in the penthouse. It just kind of depends, and you don’t know when you call it,” Cousins said. “We had a few that were big-time, we had one called back on a penalty, that killed the drive, and then we had one on the last drive of the game … and we didn’t hit it.