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Cincinnati Bengals: 4 Vikings to watch in Week 1

By Alex Austin

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Bengals
Dalvin Cook -Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Vikings to Watch – Dalvin Cook

If the Vikings win this game, it will likely be because Dalvin Cook was unstoppable. Cook has been a force ever since he entered the league with Minnesota, and this year should be no different. He can cause damage inside, outside, and in the passing game which makes him extremely difficult to gameplan around.

Cook has been the heart of the Minnesota Vikings offense, even with the addition of Kirk Cousins and some tremendous talent at wide receiver. I would anticipate Cook getting around 25 rushing attempts so the Vikings can slow down the game and let their rushing attack wear the Bengals down. Against a team that struggled to stop the run last year, this seems like it could be a very effective plan.

The Bengals are hoping that D.J. Reader and Larry Ogunjobi can provide the run support needed, but ultimately there is no stopping Cook. The key for the Bengals will be to slow him down enough to run an effective offense at the other end.

The number of big plays Cook makes will likely be the deciding factor in this game.

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