Minnesota’s starting quarterback is still out with knee issues, so backup Case Keenum got all the practice reps with the first team this week, and it really showed to excellent effect in this game. I noted in my game report last week that Keenum didn’t seem to be able to release the ball as fast as Bradford, which allowed defensive pressure to get to him far too often. That issue was completely cleaned up in this game — although it should be noted that Tampa Bay was missing a number of their defensive starters and suffered a rash of injuries during the game on top of that. The final score of 31-17 makes the game appear closer on the scoreboard than it was on the playing field.

The difference a week of practice will make for an NFL quarterback: Keenum found out about an hour before the Steelers game that he’d be starting, and hadn’t had much chance to work with the starters, and the result was painful to watch. In contrast, having the full week of practice allowed Keenum to develop a good working relationship with wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, both of whom had great games (Diggs – 8 receptions for 173 yards and 2 TDs, Thielen – 5 for 98 yards). Keenum finished with 25 of 33 completions for 369 yards (a career best) with three touchdowns and a passer rating of 142.1. Best supporting actor player for the offense was probably Dalvin Cook, who is playing at a very high level indeed (my favourite infographic during the game showed a comparison between Adrian Peterson’s first three games and Cook, showing Cook ahead on total yards and yards per carry on fewer carries … while the announcer said “nobody is comparing him to Peterson”). Cook’s numbers for the game were 27 rushes for 97 yards and a TD, with five receptions for 72 yards.

At 1500ESPN, Matthew Coller lauds the Vikings’ gameplan:

When you think about backup quarterbacks, the first thing that comes to mind is: “Game manager.” But Case Keenum was far from a game manager on Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings’ scheme included a barrage of deep passes. The result: Complete demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense.

Here’s a stat you might not expect: Keenum went 21-for-52 on passes that qualified as “deep throws” by NFL official play-by-play last season. Keenum’s 40.4% completion percentage on deep throws was higher than that of Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton and Matt Stafford.

So the Vikings allowed Keenum to do what he does well by working the ball down the field.

From the third play of the game, it was clear the Vikings had no intention of dinking and dunking. After back-to-back solid runs by Dalvin Cook, the Vikings looked deep. Keenum’s throw didn’t exactly reach Elway-like velocity, but it dropped out of the sky into the hands of Adam Thielen for a 45-yard gain.

Stefon Diggs was, as per usual, upgradable. The Vikings essentially put the game on ice by going deep to Diggs on the final drive of the first half, hitting him for a 47-yard strike. Minnesota’s top receiver then rose up over his defender for Keenum’s second touchdown of the game.

Diggs didn’t leave anything to chance in the second half, breaking a 59-yard touchdown off a simple out route to put the VIkings up 28-3.

At the Daily Norseman, Christopher Gates has some well-earned praise for Keenum:

The Vikings’ backup quarterback put on the best performance of his career in a big Minnesota win.

Usually, backup quarterbacks go out and have the best games of their career against the Minnesota Vikings. On Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Case Keenum decided that he wanted to do that for the purple instead.

Keenum had the best game of his NFL career, throwing for a career-high 369 yards, connecting on three touchdown passes, and overall just playing a brilliant game as the Vikings defeated the Bucs by a final score of 34-17.

The Vikings got on the board first in this one, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season. Dalvin Cook got his first NFL touchdown, going over from a yard out to make the score 7-0. The play was set up by a big 45-yard pass from Case Keenum to Adam Thielen to put the Vikings into Tampa Bay territory.

Tampa Bay answered on their opening drive, but could only manage a field goal, as Nick Folk connected from 40 yards out to cut the Minnesota lead to 7-3 midway through the first quarter.

The home team added to their lead in the second quarter, as Keenum found Jarius Wright for a 2-yard touchdown pass, and Forbath connected on the extra point to make the score 14-3. The Vikings got the benefit of a penalty on the Buccaneers on a third down deep in Tampa territory, and they took advantage with the touchdown pass.

Following an interception of Jameis Winston by Trae Waynes … yes, that Trae Waynes … the Vikings added to their lead on another impressive drive. Keenum marched the Vikings down the field, and hit Diggs for a big 47-yard gain down to the Tampa Bay 30. A few plays later, Keenum connected with Diggs again, this time on a 17-yard touchdown pass to extend the Vikings’ lead to 21-3.

Totally unrelated to the Vikings-Bucs game was this little bit of schadenfreude, as we look in on how former Viking left tackle Matt Kalil is doing with his new team:

As you can see, Matt is still doing the best “Olé!” move in the NFL.