Minnesota Vikings: Case Keenum out-dueled Matthew Stafford
Thanksgiving saw another game and another quite impressive showing from the Minnesota Vikings and their quarterback Case Keenum.
It was the second straight year the Minnesota Vikings face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. While last year saw the Minnesota Vikings blow the lead late, it was a different story in 2017. This year saw the Vikings win a close contest and yet another stellar performance from quarterback Case Keenum.
Stellar is a hard thing to quantify, of course. You know it when you see it, though, and typically Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is put in the stellar category. So let’s compare the days for Keenum and Stafford.
Stafford went 20-35 for 250 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Stafford finished the day with a 51.1 in ESPN’s QBR.
Keenum went 21-30 for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Keenum finished the day with a 95.6 in ESPN’s QBR.
Neither line is anything to sneeze at, but it is clear that Keenum’s day was a better one. Don’t expect Keenum to out shine Stafford for the rest of their careers, but this is just some more proof that Keenum truly is a good quarterback. Keenum outdueled one of the top quarterbacks in the league in a closely fought game.
It would be great to be able to stop pointing out the great performances that Keenum has, but it still seems that Keenum isn’t getting that respect. There was proof of that during the Thanksgiving broadcast on FOX.
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Many people locally have clamored for the Vikings to replace Keenum with Teddy Bridgewater, but FOX went one step further. The broadcast hinted that Sam Bradford could possibly take the job back when he is eligible to come off the injured reserve when the playoffs roll around. Hours later and I still don’t know how to fully process anyone thinking that Bradford taking the job back is even a remote possibility.
Keenum shouldn’t lose his job to anyone, folks. As long as Keenum doesn’t go Nathan Peterman on us and throw five interceptions in one half, there is no reason to bench Keenum. He just outdueled one of the top quarterbacks in the league against a team with playoff hopes.
Oh, Keenum also ran the ball in for a touchdown on Thanksgiving, too. He can do a lot of things on the football field and he does them well, so well that he should be doing them deep into the playoffs.
Next: 4 things the Vikings should be thankful for!
The Vikings have a mini-bye after playing on Thursday. The Vikings play a week from Sunday when they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.