The Vikings play-action passing game

Minnesota has found success when they can get their play-action opportunities rolling. Quarterback Kirk Cousins thrives in play-action situations, and the return of Cook only increases those opportunities. Cousins has a 73.6% completion rate when throwing from a play-action compared to his 69.1% completion rate when throwing from a straight passing look.

Payton is well aware of the Vikings elite play-action, and is well aware of the consequences it can have on the defense if not read properly. He said, “When they move you defensively and then they come off of that with a heavy play action, that’s a challenge. Those wide zone teams that do a good job of setting up patterns down the field, that can not only give the quarterback an extra half a second to throw it, but they can give the route, an extra five to 10 yards to get into your defense, which can be challenging.”

New Orleans’ entire secondary corps will have to get their reads correct in order to properly defend a potent Vikings play-action pass that has the potential to be a difference maker.

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