The Vikings offensive performance had a roller-coaster run in 2018, and Head Coach Mike Zimmer is confident in the new-look coaching staff to bring more consistency to that side of the ball.
In his first season in Purple, Kirk Cousins was 425-of-606 passing for 4,298 yards and 30 touchdowns. While he had his share of ups and downs, as well, Cousins was involved in some exciting shootouts during the season.
Analytics site Pro Football Focus recently put together a list of **“best QB duels of the 2018 season,”** and Cousins appeared on the rankings twice. First, the duel between him and Aaron Rodgers in the Week 2 Border Battle at Green Bay was highlighted.
PFF wrote that while Vikings fans may remember the disappointment of missed field goals and a tie, it's important to not forget "how good the quarterback play was":
Kirk Cousins was dominant in this game; despite getting pressured on 17 of 52 dropbacks, Cousins was able to deliver accurate passes all game, and he earned an 88.9 adjusted completion percentage on the afternoon. While Rodgers ended the game with a lower grade, he was also near his best and completed 32 of his 40 attempts for 281 yards, a touchdown, one big-time throw and zero turnover-worthy passes.
PFF next covered Cousins' performance against Jared Goff and the Rams in Week 4, also a road game that came down to the wire but unfortunately ended in a Minnesota loss.
This "TNF" aerial assault featured some of the best deep passing of any game this year. Combined, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff completed 9-of-10 deep passes for 295 yards and a staggering seven touchdowns. Where Goff was able to separate from Cousins was his play when not blitzed. When facing four-or-fewer-man rushes, Goff completed 17-of-18 targeted passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns, which produced an exceptional passing grade of 98.1 – the best single-game mark by a quarterback with at least 10 dropbacks against the four-or-fewer-man rush.
Which other QB duels made PFF's list? The analytics team spotlighted the following: Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Drew Brees in Week 1, Andrew Luck vs. Deshaun Watson in Week 4, Brees vs. Goff in Week 9, Russell Wilson vs. Patrick Mahomes in Week 16, and Sam Darnold vs. Watson in Week 5.
View some of the team photographers favorite the Through the Lens images from the 2018 season.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 11, 2018 preseason away game against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings won 42-28.
An image from December 2, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from November 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings won 24-17.
An image from August 18, 2018 preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings lost 10-14.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 10, 2018 regular season away game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings loss 7-21.
An image from October 21, 2018 regular season away game against the New York Jets. The Vikings won 37-17.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from October 28, 2018 regular season home game against the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings loss 20-30.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from August 30, 2018 preseason away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Vikings won 13-3.
An image from December 16, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings won 41-17.
An image from October 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Vikings won 27-17.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from August 24, 2018 preseason home game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings won 21-20.
An image from September 27, 2018 regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Vikings lost 31-38.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from December 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 27-9.
An image from September 23, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings lost 6-27.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from October 7, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings won 23-21.
An image from September 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings tied 29-29.
An image from September 9, 2018 regular season home game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won 24-16.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
An image from November 4, 2018 regular season home game against the Detroit Lions. The Vikings won 24-9.
ESPN releases free agency guide
Which positions in free agency will be affected by the 2019 NFL Draft class?
In wrapping up **ESPN’s 2019 free agency guide**, Dan Graziano took a look at five position groups in this year's draft class that could influence the market when free agency officially opens at 3 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday.
Graziano pointed out the depth of this year's defensive line class. He wrote:
You've heard all about the loaded defensive line class. Teams picking in the first half of the first round could play hardball with agents for guys like Trey Flowers and Dante Fowler, Jr., by asserting that they can get a high-impact guy in the draft. And with players such as Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, Montez Sweat, Rashan Gary and others just having torn up the combine in Indianapolis, they could be right.
According to Graziano, free agent defensive backs could have stronger markets this year because "evaluators don't seem to think this is a particularly stellar year" for the position group in the draft, and he also took a look at the offensive line class compared to those players who are slated to high free agency.
Graziano also highlighted the talent at tight end in the draft pool while calling the free-agent tight end market "spotty." And while he believes there's not a running back who will go off the board in the top five, Graziano said there's "intriguing depth and variety at the position."
Teams always believe they can find starting running backs in the middle or late rounds, and they're usually right. So why stretch for a Mark Ingram when you might be able to get Iowa State's David Montgomery on Friday night? Or Washington's Myles Gaskin on Friday (Day 2) or Saturday (Day 3)? Oklahoma State's Justice Hill had the top 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump of any back at the combine. The only other running back since 2003 with a 4.4-second 40 and a 40-inch vertical at the combine was [Saquon] Barkley. There's running back talent throughout this draft.
