Thielen frustrado: 'Você precisa ser capaz de jogar' – NFL.com

TheChicago Bearssuffocated theMinnesota Vikingsrun game, holdingDalvin Cookto just 35 yards and a score on 14 carries. With Cook stymied, the rest of theVikings‘ offense slowly circled the drain for most of Sunday’s16-6 loss.

Sunday once again showed that when good defenses forceKirk Cousinsto power theVikings, the ship sinks.

Minnesota generated only 59 total yards of offense in the first half. TheVikings‘ first seven drives either ended in a punt or a lost fumble. The offense did not gain a first down from 8:00 left in the second quarter to 2:00 left in the third quarter (21-minute span). Cousins was 9-of-14 passing with 53 pass yards at 2:00 left in the third quarter. He finished with 233 yards passing after theBearsD went lax with a two-score lead.

The ineptitude for long stretches this season has led to frustration, especially with receiversAdam ThielenandStefon Diggs, who were each visibly exasperated on the sideline Sunday.

“At some point, you’re not going to be able to run the ball for 180 yards, even with the best running back in the NFL,” Thielen said,via The Athletic. “That’s when you have to be able to throw the ball. You have to be able to make plays. You have to be able to hit the deep balls. You have to do that.”

Thielen caught just two passes for six yards on six targets. Cousins’ only real deep shot of the game came on a first-half heave to Thielen, but the QB overthrew the receiver by several yards. A better toss would have gone for a TD and changed the entire complexion of the tilt.

Diggs ended the game with seven receptions and 108 yards, but five of those catches went for 91 yards late in the second half when theVikingswere already down and mostly out.

“I think we’re just as frustrated as every fan in the state of Minnesota, everyMinnesota Vikingsfan,” Thielen said. “We are more frustrated. We put everything we have into the offseason. We grind every single day, and then to put a performance like that — it’s so frustrating, it’s unbelievable.”

With Cousins going into checkdown mode early and often behind a struggling offensive line, theVikings‘ high-priced, talented receivers are wasted. The frustration will only mount if the trend we’ve seen early this season continues as the schedule ramps up down the road for the 2-2Vikings.