Vikings offense 'buys in' for new OC Stefanski

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 16: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball for a 21 yard touchdown, his second of the day, in the fourth quarter of them game against the Miami Dolphins. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

The Vikings “bought in.” That was the clear message from both players in the locker room after Sunday’s 41-17 win over the Miami Dolphins and at the team’s practice facility on Monday.

They had to buy in, with a new coach running the offense and with playoff chances still in their own control. The Vikings played one of their most complete games of the season in a game they had to have, and it’s the same scenario this week as they get ready to head to Detroit.

In Kevin Stefanski’s debut as offensive coordinator, the Vikings piled up more than 400 yards of total offense and scored 21 first quarter points. Dalvin Cook was a factor early and often, getting 59 yards on the team’s opening drive alone.

"As a player you’ve just got to buy in. New coach, just buy into whatever he’s doing or whatever he wants done. Just go make the plays for him," wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who had four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown in the win, said Sunday.

Cook ran for a season-high 136 yards and two scores in the victory. As he put it Monday, the win gives them a chance to “get in the dance.” He also said he feels great after being sidelined earlier this season with a hamstring injury.

“The guys got so much confidence in me. It just takes your game to another level because you know these guys believe in you to make plays,” Cook said Monday. “You know you can make plays. These guys believe in me 100 percent, and I believe in them 100 percent. When you have a group like that, it’s nothing but a positive outcome.”

Cook’s second touchdown run featured a highlight reel spin move that got him a clear path to the end zone. It was the cherry on top that gave the Vikings a 41-17 lead and eventual win, and it showed off his ability to make defenders miss.

“When Dalvin gets into open space, and sometimes not even open space, he makes a lot of players miss. There was a couple other runs there I thought he was going to bust,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “And it wasn’t just the spin move, it was the three guys he made miss after it that was pretty good too.”

Kyle Rudolph talked after the win Sunday of the offense buying into running the football, and getting back to establishing the identity of the offense as playing physical up front. The Vikings ran for 220 yards on the day, their biggest collective rushing game of the season.

Rudolph said one of the big reasons was Stefanski setting up plays to get the football in the hands of the offensive play-makers.

“One of the points we made early in the week is that it’s time we stop talking about it and actually go out and do it. Kevin did an unbelievable job of going out and creating a plan that allowed our ability to just take over. We got everybody involved,” Rudolph said.

One player the Vikings’ offense welcomed back from injury was tight end David Morgan. He saw his first action since a Week 9 knee injury, and his work in blocking run plays opened up holes for both Cook and Latavius Murray.

“It felt good to be back out there. It had been a couple weeks so to be out there and be a part of a big win like that was really special,” Morgan said.

Kirk Cousins didn’t have to do a ton passing in the win, but did complete passes to seven different receivers in the game. Even rarely-used tight end Tyler Conklin had two catches for 53 yards.

The Vikings collected 22 first downs and ran for more than six yards per carry on Sunday. It was a dominant performance at the line of scrimmage.

Stefanski’s debut couldn’t have gone much better, but there’s still plenty of work to do for the Vikings to reach the ultimate goal of the playoffs.