Vikings Week 14 spotlight: Dalvin Cook

Number grade (out of 10): 7.5

The Vikings rushing attack eventually fizzled but did more than any other NFL offense on the ground against the league's No. 1 run defense. The Buccaneers were allowing just 3.3 yards per carry entering Sunday, when Cook averaged 4.6 yards despite running on an ankle tweaked a couple weeks ago. The Vikings' 162 rushing yards are the most Tampa Bay has allowed this season, which included 71 rushing yards in the first quarter. Cook said it "felt great" to be back in his home state; the Miamian had 15 tickets for family and friends at Raymond James Stadium.

Positive: Blasting out of the gate

Cook started with 44 ferocious yards on nine carries in the first quarter. He slipped two defenders on his 11th carry, a 1-yard touchdown run, before overpowering a third Bucs defender to cross the goal line. By his 12th carry, Cook had 61 rushing yards — surpassing Panthers star Christian McCaffrey's 59 yards as the most against the Buccaneers by one player this season — taking advantage of lighter boxes and a safeties keying on Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.

Negative: Feet betray him

Cook looked as elusive as ever, but his feet struggled at times to keep up with his vision and many, many changes of direction. He lamented the handful of times he slipped, leaving potential yardage on the field. Cook had a huge hole on a third-and-1 play in the opening drive, but tripped over his own feet on a 5-yard gain that could've gone for much more. Ditto for an 8-yard run on the next drive.

Extra Point: Taking time to breathe

The Vikings were serious about managing Cook's workload with backup Alexander Mattison (appendectomy) sidelined. A week after taking a career-high 38 touches against Jacksonville, Cook was subbed out during the first series in Tampa Bay, where 80 degrees and humidity required adjusting for everybody. Cook finished with just 24 of the backfield's 36 touches, as fullback C.J. Ham and running backs Ameer Abdullah and Mike Boone got involved.

Quotable

"I'm hot about that. I'm mad about that. I just couldn't find my — it's different playing on this grass after playing on turf for three weeks and trying to cut the same way. Sometimes I was losing my feet. I was mad at myself. Left some runs out there." — Cook on losing his footing.