Cook unstoppable in win against NFC North rival Lions

MINNEAPOLIS — Dalvin Cook kept his brilliant season rolling by rushing for a career-high 206 yards and two scores on 22 carries, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-20 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns — two to tight end Irv Smith Jr. — in his second straight turnover-free performance for the Vikings (3-5), who averaged 8.9 yards per play on the way to their first home win this season.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who didn’t practice all week because of coronavirus exposure protocols, left the game in the fourth quarter for concussion evaluation after taking a knee to the head during a sack. He was picked off on consecutive possessions in the third quarter, first at the Minnesota 12 and then in the end zone. Chase Daniel threw another interception after taking over.

The show again belonged to Cook, though, with his predecessor Adrian Peterson watching from the opposite sideline. Cook, whom Peterson admiringly called “a lethal weapon” this week, has

478 yards and six touchdowns from scrimmage in two games since missing one with a groin injury.

Peterson had eight carries for 29 yards while again dropping behind rookie D’andre Swift in the pecking order for the Lions (3-5), who lost their ninth straight division game and are 2-13 against the

NFC North under coach Matt Patricia. He’s 0-5 against the Vikings.

The Vikings entered the game ranked second in the league in yards per play (6.34) and more than doubled that average on their first two possessions to quickly take command.

■ NEXT: Washington at Lions, 10 a.m. Sunday. Vikings at Bears, 5:20 p.m. Nov. 16.