MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings wanted to keep Dalvin Cook fresh for the final stretch of their race for the playoffs, concerned about an increasing number of punishing hits on the star running back.
Then Cook touched the ball 38 times in an overtime win over Jacksonville, the second-highest single-game total in team history. The Vikings can’t quit him, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I’ll probably need 38 more. I feel great, to be honest. I’m not pulling your coattails or nothing,” Cook said Wednesday, three days after his 32 carries for 120 yards and six catches for 59 yards helped the Vikings edge past the Jaguars to take control of the third and final wild card in the NFC.