Post by Funkytown on Dec 8, 2023 21:33:14 GMT -6
What I’m watching
Lewis: Justin Jefferson. Full apologies, but I’m plucking the lowest-hanging fruit from the tree. The superstar wide receiver will be back on the field after missing eight weeks due to a hamstring strain. He is 100 percent healthy and figures to be the focal point of the Vikings offense. Watching Jefferson weekly challenges you not to become numb to his greatness. His absence offered a reminder of the difference he makes. Seeing him move fluidly across the field and watching how he changes the calculus of defensive schemes is what I’ll be focused on Sunday afternoon.
Krawczynski: The Sphere. That thing is awesome. Just kidding. Well, I’m not kidding about the Sphere’s awesomeness, but that’s not what I’ll be watching Sunday. I’m going to watch Jordan Addison. He hasn’t scored a touchdown in four games and appears to be hitting a bit of a rookie wall. In the locker room after the loss to the Bears, he looked crestfallen while sitting in front of his locker with a towel over his head. Getting Jefferson back — coupled with the bye week — could be what he needs to get back to being the playmaker he has been during an impressive start to his first season. Single coverage and fresh legs should do the rookie good.
Biggest concerns
Lewis: Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. If Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell can find them down the field and connect with them accurately — and by no means are either of these a given — Adams and Meyers can take over a game. Adams needs no introduction, of course. He may be almost 31 and he may be playing without a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but his skills still show up on tape. Since interim coach Antonio Pierce took over in Week 9, Adams has the fifth-most targets in the NFL. Meyers, meanwhile, shows flashes on tape. Two weeks ago, for example, he stacked elite Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in one-on-one coverage and hauled in a pass down the sideline. The Vikings secondary will have its hands full if O’Connell is comfortable in the pocket.
Krawczynski: That Kevin O’Connell and Josh Dobbs aren’t on the same page. O’Connell talked about the conversations the two had over the bye week after that disastrous Bears performance. Was Dobbs not following the game plan and trying to show the world he could be a pocket passer? Was O’Connell trying to make Dobbs something he is not by calling a game seemingly better suited for Kirk Cousins? I don’t know. But about the only chance the Vikings have to be a factor in the NFC playoff race is by making sure O’Connell and Dobbs are in lockstep. The first two weeks were exhilarating, but how much of that was Dobbs just winging it and scrambling around on his own? We should find out once and for all this weekend.
Most interesting matchup
Lewis: Maxx Crosby versus Brian O’Neill. Crosby, who has not practiced thus far this week, is a menace of the highest order when healthy. He can single-handedly wreck an offense’s day. He has the fifth-most pressures in the NFL and is sixth in sacks (11.5). He mostly aligns on the left side of the line of scrimmage, which means O’Neill, the right tackle, will have his hands full. This is especially notable considering O’Neill had trouble with Montez Sweat against the Bears. O’Neill has been reliable throughout most of the season, despite his return from a partially torn Achilles. Responding with a positive performance will be crucial to the Vikings moving the ball effectively.
Krawczynski: Josh Metellus versus Aidan O’Connell. Metellus has shown a nose for the football this season. He just finds a way to be around the big plays for the Vikings defense. The rookie O’Connell was OK against Kansas City before the bye week but threw three interceptions the game before against Miami. The Minnesota defense likely will come out of the bye with an even greater sense of urgency after its strong performance against the Bears was wasted by an inept offense. The defense knows it has to make things happen Sunday, and Metellus is the guy on the unit to deliver.
Most interesting overall storyline
Lewis: Can the Vikings stay in the fight for the NFC wild card? The Packers have rattled off three massive wins in a row and face the struggling Giants, Panthers and Buccaneers down the stretch. The Rams have also won three games in a row and match up with the Giants, Saints and Commanders down the stretch. Minnesota has lost two straight. It weighed a quarterback change. The Vikings also finish the season with two games against the Lions and one against the Packers. They desperately need this game if they want to claw their way into the postseason.
Krawczynski: Who is going to regain some of their mojo? The Raiders got a nice boost from firing coach Josh McDaniels and turning the team over to Pierce. Then they lost two straight heading into the bye week. The Vikings, of course, got their own shot in the arm with Dobbs’ arrival and subsequent starring role in two wins. Then Minnesota lost two winnable games, at Denver and home against Chicago, to spoil the momentum. Who is going to find the magic they lost before the bye?
Schematic matchup to keep in mind
Opposing defenses have played the Vikings differently since Jefferson went on injured reserve. They have been more willing to plan man-to-man coverage against Minnesota’s skill players, and when they have played zone, they’ve mostly done so with one-high safety. Jefferson’s reintegration into the offense changes the math. Defenses wanting to keep multiple sets of eyes on Jefferson will open up more one-on-one matchups for tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receiver Jordan Addison. It’ll also remove more defenders from the box, which should make it easier for the Vikings to run the football.
Predictions
Lewis: 31-17 Vikings. If they don’t turn the ball over — and I know this is a massive if — the Vikings should be able to move the ball effectively. Jefferson’s return should provide some juice. So should an Allegiant Stadium crowd filled with Vikings fans. Most of the picks this year feel like toss-ups. This one not so much.
Krawczynski: 23-17 Vikings. I’m just not as confident that the points will roll like 7s in a slot machine. Jefferson’s return should give the team a boost, but Dobbs has never thrown a pass to him in a real game. Maybe they will hit on all cylinders right away, but I could see it taking a little bit of time for the chemistry to form.
Lewis: Justin Jefferson. Full apologies, but I’m plucking the lowest-hanging fruit from the tree. The superstar wide receiver will be back on the field after missing eight weeks due to a hamstring strain. He is 100 percent healthy and figures to be the focal point of the Vikings offense. Watching Jefferson weekly challenges you not to become numb to his greatness. His absence offered a reminder of the difference he makes. Seeing him move fluidly across the field and watching how he changes the calculus of defensive schemes is what I’ll be focused on Sunday afternoon.
Krawczynski: The Sphere. That thing is awesome. Just kidding. Well, I’m not kidding about the Sphere’s awesomeness, but that’s not what I’ll be watching Sunday. I’m going to watch Jordan Addison. He hasn’t scored a touchdown in four games and appears to be hitting a bit of a rookie wall. In the locker room after the loss to the Bears, he looked crestfallen while sitting in front of his locker with a towel over his head. Getting Jefferson back — coupled with the bye week — could be what he needs to get back to being the playmaker he has been during an impressive start to his first season. Single coverage and fresh legs should do the rookie good.
Biggest concerns
Lewis: Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. If Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell can find them down the field and connect with them accurately — and by no means are either of these a given — Adams and Meyers can take over a game. Adams needs no introduction, of course. He may be almost 31 and he may be playing without a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but his skills still show up on tape. Since interim coach Antonio Pierce took over in Week 9, Adams has the fifth-most targets in the NFL. Meyers, meanwhile, shows flashes on tape. Two weeks ago, for example, he stacked elite Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in one-on-one coverage and hauled in a pass down the sideline. The Vikings secondary will have its hands full if O’Connell is comfortable in the pocket.
Krawczynski: That Kevin O’Connell and Josh Dobbs aren’t on the same page. O’Connell talked about the conversations the two had over the bye week after that disastrous Bears performance. Was Dobbs not following the game plan and trying to show the world he could be a pocket passer? Was O’Connell trying to make Dobbs something he is not by calling a game seemingly better suited for Kirk Cousins? I don’t know. But about the only chance the Vikings have to be a factor in the NFC playoff race is by making sure O’Connell and Dobbs are in lockstep. The first two weeks were exhilarating, but how much of that was Dobbs just winging it and scrambling around on his own? We should find out once and for all this weekend.
Most interesting matchup
Lewis: Maxx Crosby versus Brian O’Neill. Crosby, who has not practiced thus far this week, is a menace of the highest order when healthy. He can single-handedly wreck an offense’s day. He has the fifth-most pressures in the NFL and is sixth in sacks (11.5). He mostly aligns on the left side of the line of scrimmage, which means O’Neill, the right tackle, will have his hands full. This is especially notable considering O’Neill had trouble with Montez Sweat against the Bears. O’Neill has been reliable throughout most of the season, despite his return from a partially torn Achilles. Responding with a positive performance will be crucial to the Vikings moving the ball effectively.
Krawczynski: Josh Metellus versus Aidan O’Connell. Metellus has shown a nose for the football this season. He just finds a way to be around the big plays for the Vikings defense. The rookie O’Connell was OK against Kansas City before the bye week but threw three interceptions the game before against Miami. The Minnesota defense likely will come out of the bye with an even greater sense of urgency after its strong performance against the Bears was wasted by an inept offense. The defense knows it has to make things happen Sunday, and Metellus is the guy on the unit to deliver.
Most interesting overall storyline
Lewis: Can the Vikings stay in the fight for the NFC wild card? The Packers have rattled off three massive wins in a row and face the struggling Giants, Panthers and Buccaneers down the stretch. The Rams have also won three games in a row and match up with the Giants, Saints and Commanders down the stretch. Minnesota has lost two straight. It weighed a quarterback change. The Vikings also finish the season with two games against the Lions and one against the Packers. They desperately need this game if they want to claw their way into the postseason.
Krawczynski: Who is going to regain some of their mojo? The Raiders got a nice boost from firing coach Josh McDaniels and turning the team over to Pierce. Then they lost two straight heading into the bye week. The Vikings, of course, got their own shot in the arm with Dobbs’ arrival and subsequent starring role in two wins. Then Minnesota lost two winnable games, at Denver and home against Chicago, to spoil the momentum. Who is going to find the magic they lost before the bye?
Schematic matchup to keep in mind
Opposing defenses have played the Vikings differently since Jefferson went on injured reserve. They have been more willing to plan man-to-man coverage against Minnesota’s skill players, and when they have played zone, they’ve mostly done so with one-high safety. Jefferson’s reintegration into the offense changes the math. Defenses wanting to keep multiple sets of eyes on Jefferson will open up more one-on-one matchups for tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receiver Jordan Addison. It’ll also remove more defenders from the box, which should make it easier for the Vikings to run the football.
Predictions
Lewis: 31-17 Vikings. If they don’t turn the ball over — and I know this is a massive if — the Vikings should be able to move the ball effectively. Jefferson’s return should provide some juice. So should an Allegiant Stadium crowd filled with Vikings fans. Most of the picks this year feel like toss-ups. This one not so much.
Krawczynski: 23-17 Vikings. I’m just not as confident that the points will roll like 7s in a slot machine. Jefferson’s return should give the team a boost, but Dobbs has never thrown a pass to him in a real game. Maybe they will hit on all cylinders right away, but I could see it taking a little bit of time for the chemistry to form.
... and neither is this Chris guy.