Field Level Media
Nov 8, 2020
Dalvin Cook rushed for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard scamper, and Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes as the Minnesota Vikings manhandled the Detroit Lions 34-20 on Sunday in Minneapolis.
Cook, who has scored six touchdowns in the last two games, carried 22 times and also caught two passes for 46 yards. Cousins passed for 220 yards, while tight end Irv Smith Jr. had two receiving touchdowns. Alexander Mattison added 69 rushing yards for the Vikings (3-5).
Detroit's Matthew Stafford passed for 211 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted twice. He left the game in the fourth quarter and was being evaluated for a concussion.
Danny Amendola caught seven passes for 77 yards, while T.J. Hockenson and Marvin Jones Jr. caught touchdown passes for the Lions (3-5).
Minnesota never trailed and led 20-10 at halftime.
The Vikings scored on their first two possessions. Cousins completed a pair of 22-yard passes on their opening drive and Cook finished it off with a 5-yard run.
Following a missed Lions field goal, Minnesota struck again. Cousins' 30-yard completion to Adam Thielen set up a 9-yard scoring pass to Smith. The extra-point try was missed, leaving the score at 13-0.
Detroit got on the board with a 23-yard Matt Prater field goal with 8:21 left in the half.
An eight-play, 72-yard drive allowed the Lions to pull within three points. Stafford connected with Jones for a 15-yard score to complete it.
The Vikings quickly answered on Cousins' 22-yard scoring strike to Ameer Abdullah.
Cousins' third scoring pass, a 1-yard toss to Smith, made it 27-10 midway through the third quarter.
The Lions had a chance to creep closer after blocking a punt deep in Minnesota territory but Stafford was picked off in the end zone by linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Detroit cut the Vikings' lead to 27-13 with 11:02 remaining on Prater's 45-yard field goal.
On the next play from scrimmage, Cook broke a tackle a few yards downfield and then streaked along the left side on his 70-yard run.
Lions backup quarterback Chase Daniel hit Hockenson with a 2-yard scoring pass with 6:55 left.
--Field Level Media