Cassel and Patterson find a deep (TD) connection

After a missed connection on a deep ball in last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel and second-year wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson got it right tonight.

On the team’s opening drive, which started at their 3-yard line, Cassel froze the Chiefs defense with a play-action fake and fired a 53-yard touchdown pass to Patterson, who had gotten behind Chiefs second-string safety Daniel Sorensen. It was an accurate throw by Cassel and Patterson did a good job of tracking the ball before making an over-the-shoulder catch and coasting into the end zone.

“It was a play that we had worked on throughout the week and we had yet to throw the ball to Cordarrelle on it,” Cassel said, who was 2-for-2 for 84 yards on the opening drive. “He got on top of the safety and I was able to see it and give him an opportunity, and he went and made a great play.”

Patterson said he could feel a big play coming when Cassel barked out the play call in the huddle. He just figured the play would come from fellow wide receiver Greg Jennings on that particular play.

“Matt did a heck of a job putting it out there,” said Patterson, who had three catches. “I felt like the ball wasn’t even coming my way because in practice, we go over it every week and he always throws it to Greg. Before the play, I told Greg, ‘I got you.’ And Matt did a heck of a job getting it out to me.”