The Positives - 2021 Edition

Yes, but those are both examples of going into a game with a uniquely-designed DEFENSIVE game plan. It's rare that the Vikings don't start every game with "let's establish the run", even if they are facing a great run-defense team or one with injured CBs. That's complicated by the nature of "establish the run" - if you think you can do it, you need some patience across multiple drives. So they stick with it too long if a team is able to shut them down. It's made worse since we ALWAYS come out looking to run first, because all our opponents know how to plan to stop us in the first half.

I don't think we have shown unpredictability in our opening offensive gameplans since 2017, when Shurmur was OC and Cook was injured.