Quick Observations For Every NFL Team From Week One

Minnesota Vikings – This is a complete team

When you think about the Vikings you think of defense first and deservedly so. That unit held Jimmy Garoppolo to 15 of 33 with one touchdown compared to three interceptions, having taken one of them to the house. More importantly they showed they can follow the gameplan, by keeping the defensive ends home against bootlegs and taking away easy completions. However, they got the job done offensively as well. The 84-million dollar man Kirk Cousins looked confident and has already established good connections with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, plus he has shown understanding of play design. Case Keenum had a magical year in 2018, but Cousins is a much better player. Also, Dalvin Cook is a special talent and even though he was limited to 2.5 yards per carry, he made things happen in the quick passing game with six catches for 55 yards.

---

New England Patriots – Gronk is pretty much unstoppable one-on-one

We heard all about the lack of pass-catchers surrounding Brady as we have done in recent years with Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis all gone, but as long as they have Rob Gronkowski they have that one guy who simply can’t be covered by one man. Throughout the all-world tight-end’s career there have been very few guys, who have been able to at least slow him and it has really only been those big hits from Bernard Pollard and Earl Thomas that made him less of a locomotive in the middle of the field. Last Sunday the Texans were tasked to come up with a strategy to make Brady’s number one weapon less effective and they just couldn’t find a way. They played straight-up, put safeties on him, moved linebacker Zach Cunningham to the outside and shaded him with a safety over the top, but nothing worked. Gronk still ended up with seven catches for 123 yards.