#_author:Sam Smith

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Vikings Deny Late Run from Matthew Stafford, Lions: Instant Reactions

It was a tale of two halves for the Vikings. For 30 minutes nothing could go wrong but after the break, the Lions stormed back and made it a much closer game than it should have been. Ultimately, Minnesota was able to hold on 30-23 for the key division win, increasing their lead in the NFC North to three games.

Here are my immediate thoughts on the game.

General Impression

For one half, the Vikings looked like the best team in football. Case Keenum was dealing the ball all over the field, the pass rush was dominating and the coverage was impeccable. Without looking at the score you would think game was a blowout. But due to a missed field goal, a missed PAT and a penalty-filled final defensive drive of the half, Minnesota failed to put the Lions away early.

In the second half, the Vikes started running the ball better but everything else took a nose dive. Keenum came down to earth and Matthew Stafford finally got in a rhythm, allowing the Lions to not only keep the game competitive but drive to potentially tie the game.

But Minnesota made the plays they needed to and exploited Detroit mistakes just enough to hold off their division rivals.

Who Stood Out

The usual connection, Keenum-to-Thielen was in full force once again. These two literally had Thanksgiving dinner together in the endzone today. Another eight catches and 89 yards for Thielen, surpassing 1,000 yards on the season and Keenum was as sharp as ever with 282 yards and two touchdowns on 70 percent completion.

Kyle Rudolph and Latavius Murray also showed up with arguable their best games of the season. Rudolph had his first multi-score game of the season to go along with four catches and 63 yards and Murray continues to get better as the year goes along, recording 84 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Plus, on a day when his family welcomed a son to the world, Everson Griffen got his as always with two sacks, bringing his total to 12 on the season.

Who Struggled

It was the rare game where Xavier Rhodes was the guy picked on and it resulted in his worst game of the season. Rhodes shadowed Marvin Jones Jr. most of the game and Jones ended up with six catches and 109 yards including a 43-yard touchdown where Stafford caught him off guard and Jones beat Rhodes over the top. For whatever reason, the Lions seem to have Rhodes’ number lately.

That being said, he made a great interception that all but secured the win so ultimately he will get somewhat of a pass for a subpar performance.

Kai Forbath gets less of the benefit of the doubt. Forbath has had a rough couple of weeks after being one of the best kickers in the league for 10 weeks. Two games ago, Forbath’s field goal percentage was 95.7 percent. After three misses the last two weeks he is now down to 85.7 percent. Granted, one of the misses was the fault of the holder but he had yet another PAT blocked and fans are starting to tire of biting their nails whenever he steps on the field.

Looking Ahead

It does not get any easier for the boys in purple. They travel to Atlanta to take on a Falcons team that is playing well right now as they push for the postseason. The Vikes can expect another pass-heavy game, but this time mixed with a couple of good running backs.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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2 Point Cowboys Podcast: Eagles Week

Steelers flex their Super Bowl muscle

Rams at Vikings: Who has the edge?

What’s in store for the Chiefs in the second half?

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Vikings @ Lions Thanksgiving Day: Who Has the Edge?

For the second year in a row the Vikings travel to Detroit for a holiday matchup with the Lions and once again, the game figures big in terms of playoff implications.

The Lions defeated the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in week four but the tides have shifted somewhat. Minnesota has figured out how to produce without running back Dalvin Cook and the Lions are a team that plays both ways as well as anyone.

So how do the Vikings’ and Lions’ rosters compare in this NFC duel?

Quarterback

Case Keenum has been money all season but there remains a ceiling to his production. Whether he has reached that is to be seen but he just cannot compare to the raw ability and overall production of Matthew Stafford.

Edge: Lions

Running Back

Neither team’s backs are overly productive; in fact, they both use their two-back system in similar ways. Latavius Murray and Ameer Abdullah get more carries but have been somewhat disappointing and Jerick McKinnon and Theo Riddick are the spells who provide a lot of catches out of the backfield. Slight edge goes to Minnesota as Murray is on a relative hot streak, coming off a two-touchdown performance.

Edge: Vikings

Wide Receiver

We say it every week: there is not better one-two punch at receiver than Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.

Edge: Vikings

Tight End

We are up to six straight games of at least five catches now for Kyle Rudolph. Eric Ebron has been a bit of a disappointment this year after a good 2016 and Darren Fells has just 13 catches, four of which came against the Vikings eight weeks ago.

Edge: Vikings

Offensive Line

Matthew Stafford has been sacked 33 times this season. Case Keenum has been sacked five. Case closed (no pun intended).

Edge: Vikings

Defensive Line

Detroit’s starting ends Ezekiel Ansah and Anthony Zettel combine for 10 sacks in 2017, the same number Everson Griffen has by himself. Simply put, the Vikings boast the most fearsome defensive line in the NFC and one of the two best in football.

Edge: Vikings

Linebacker

Tahir Whitehead and Jarrad Davis are two solid linebackers but they do not bring the brand of athleticism and versatility that Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks provide. Very few linebacking corps do.

Edge: Vikings

Defensive Back

This is a very close battle. The Vikings are used to having the best secondary by a landslide but Darius Slay and Glover Quin are so good that they give Harrison Smith, Xavier Rhodes and company a run for their money. Assuming Rhodes and Andrew Sendejo are healthy, the slightest advantage goes to Minnesota but Detroit boasts a dangerous group here.

Edge: Vikings

Special Teams

Kai Forbath just had his worst game as a Viking, missing a pair of makeable field goals. But overall, the Vikings kick return and coverage are among the league’s best.

That being said, Matt Prater’s elite leg is an ultimate trump card in a game that figures to be fairly competitive throughout. Because of that, we will call this a wash.

Edge: Draw

Final Score

Just like in week four, the Vikings are overall the better team. They are coming off their most impressive win of the season, they are clicking on both sides of the ball and are staring a first round bye in the face. The problem is that the Lions are hot themselves and, frankly, the Vikings have not fared well against Detroit of late.

This game will likely be sloppy given the nature of Thursday games in general and the fact that both teams have strong defenses. This will be decided in the fourth quarter, just as it was a year ago but this time, the Vikings come out on top in this key NFC North matchup.

Prediction: Vikings 20, Lions 17

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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2 Point Cowboys Podcast: Eagles Week

Steelers flex their Super Bowl muscle

Rams at Vikings: Who has the edge?

What’s in store for the Chiefs in the second half?

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What’s at Stake in a Big Thanksgiving NFC North Matchup

For the second straight year, the Vikings have been saddled with playing a Thanksgiving game in Detroit. Obviously, they cannot be too upset by it, given the Lions play a holiday game every year but the fact that it, once again, comes in the midst of a playoff race has to ruffle some feathers.

Last year, the Vikings were 6-4 on Thanksgiving, in good position for the postseason despite a rough patch, losing four of the previous five. But a fourth quarter lead fell by the wayside after a late Sam Bradford interception led to a game-winning Matt Prater field goal and a Lions victory.

That loss and the loss to Detroit in week four of this season should give Thursday’s game a little extra stank for Minnesota. They are in better position than they were in either of those games; at 8-2, they are the second seed due to six NFC wins and a win over the other 8-2 team, the Saints. The only team in all of football that can match their level of completeness right now is the Philadelphia Eagles.

But the Lions are playing fairly well themselves. They have won three in a row, granted, against weaker opponents, but their offense is firing right now. Matthew Stafford has found a groove, putting up at least 27 points in each of the last three games, two of which were against good defensive teams. He is currently top-10 in touchdowns, yards, yards per attempt, yards per completion and completion percentage.

Stafford is a comparable quarterback to Kirk Cousins, who was able to hang 30 points on the vaunted Vikings defense. That being said, the Vikes just held the highest-scoring team in football to seven points, by far their most impressive win of the year. So both sides are coming in hot.

So what is at stake? Well frankly, this is a classic inflection point game. The Vikings are in the driver’s seat in the NFC North, two games up on the Lions. Detroit is in decent position for a Wild Card win or lose, so two teams from the division could very well end up in the postseason regardless of the outcome. However, a Viking win would all but bury the Lions division hopes; Minnesota would be three games up with three intra-division wins. But if Detroit pulls out the win then the season could take a dramatic turn. As we have discussed multiple times, the Vikings have some tough road games to look forward to and entering that stretch with just a one game hold on the North? That is tenuous at best.

The Lions have somewhat had the Vikes number as of late: Minnesota is 3-6 against them since 2012. But the Vikings defense has had everyone’s number all season.

This is not a must-win for Minnesota per se, more of a game of convenience. Their path to the playoffs is much clearer if they do their business in Detroit on Thursday. But they should be a playoff team regardless.

A full preview and predictions for this game will be up tomorrow so stay tuned.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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2 Point Cowboys Podcast: Eagles Week

Steelers flex their Super Bowl muscle

Rams at Vikings: Who has the edge?

What’s in store for the Chiefs in the second half?

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Vikings Muzzle Rams’ Offense: Instant Reactions

The NFC is shaping out a little more as the Vikings used a dominant fourth quarter to make their case for being the NFL’s top team with a convincing 24-7 win over the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams.

Here are my instant reactions.

General Impression

With two offenses capable of explosive scoring, I never considered the possibility of a defensive battle but alas, for three quarters that is what we saw. It was 7-7 entering the fourth with both teams close to even in total yards. But then the last fifteen minutes happened. A long touchdown drive and a 65-yard Adam Thielen catch-and-run later and the Vikings had built a two-score lead out of nowhere.

The defense was outstanding, holding the highest-scoring offense in the league to just seven points, Jared Goff to 225 yards and Todd Gurley to 56 yards from scrimmage. Though the Minnesota offense got off to a relatively slow start, they maintained a balanced attack, running the ball effectively and throwing it with high efficiency. Los Angeles had no counter once the pass rush stopped getting to Case Keenum and he consistently found open receivers.

This was arguably the most impressive win of the season for what has officially become one of the two best teams in the NFL.

Who Stood Out

Adam Thielen was great again with six catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, Keenum was efficient and somehow avoided being sacked despite facing constant pressure in the first half. But it was players who have been a little less predictable who made the difference.

Danielle Hunter had an average game a week ago when asked to step in for Everson Griffen but today he was dominant, particularly in the first half. He recorded a sack on a bull rush where he jumped over the right tackle to bring down Goff and got pressure on many other plays.

Latavius Murray showed a vigor in his runs that he has not all season. On his second touchdown, he was wrapped up three yards outside the endzone but he never gave up and found his way in. He finished just shy of 100 yards.

And Anthony Harris, in for the injured Andrew Sendejo, changed the game. His play as a whole was good but he made an exceptional stand in the second, stripping Cooper Kupp at the goalline to save a touchdown. The Rams’ offense never looked the same after that play.

Who Struggled

Nick Easton had a rough first half blocking Aaron Donald on pass plays; Donald had at least four pressures in the first two quarters when working Easton. That being said, Easton got it together in the second and Donald’s presence was not felt nearly as much after the break.

The offensive line as a whole was not at their best at keeping pressure from Keenum but they made up for it but opening up holes in the running game. It was not so much due to movement up front as it was from using the Rams momentum against them and effective scheming from Pat Shurmur.

That is how good this game was for the Vikes. The struggling section in this recap turned into a positive.

Looking Ahead

It is a short week for Minnesota as they have the holiday game at Detroit on Thursday. Detroit absolutely needs this win if they have any hopes of staying in the NFC North race as they remain a full two games behind the Vikings.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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2 Point Cowboys Podcast: Eagles Week

Steelers flex their Super Bowl muscle

Rams at Vikings: Who has the edge?

What’s in store for the Chiefs in the second half?

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Vikings Week 11 Saturday News and Notes: Greg Olsen Drama

Olsen Defends Vikings Game Broadcasting Assignment

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman spoke to the NFL about Panthers tight end Greg Olsen assisting with the Vikings broadcast for their game against the Rams. Olsen is on injured reserve due to a broken foot suffered in week two. With Carolina on its bye week, Olsen is using the time off to dip his toe into the analyst field.

But some in the Vikings feel it will give Olsen an unfair advantage leading up to their week 14 matchup in Carolina. Olsen is set to come off injured reserve after week 12. The veteran All-Pro tight end insists, however, that his role as an analyst on Sunday will have no effect in scouting Minnesota.

“The notion that I’m going to gain an unfair advantage is crazy,” Olsen said. “We have scouts at every game across the league. I’m going to have enough trouble on my hands broadcasting a game, let alone looking for little nuances on the sideline.”

“For anyone who has ever been in those broadcast production meetings, if you’re spilling your deepest, darkest gameplan secrets to the broadcast crew, that’s kind of on you. We’re not getting anything that’s really going to give you much insight on how to beat them.”

No one from the Vikings has responded publicly to Olsen’s comments.

Joseph, Diggs Fined

Minnesota’s star defensive tackle Linval Joseph and receiver Stefon Diggs are both a little lighter in the pocket after the league levied fines against them for actions in week 10’s win over Washington.

Joseph was fined in excess of $18,000 for his roughing-the-passer penalty in the first quarter. The Pro Bowler leaped and hit Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins in the neck area after Cousins released the ball, drawing the flag.

Diggs’ fine was just a hair above $12,000 for hugging the goal post in celebration after a second quarter touchdown. After catching the 3-yard pass, Diggs spread his arms out, acting like an airplane and leaped at the goalpost, which was draped in camouflage, and hugged it before sliding down. Diggs said afterwards that he was saluting the military with this celebration given that it was Veteran’s Day weekend but the use of goalposts is one of the few restrictions on endzone celebrations that remain.

Injury Report

Minnesota will be without at least two starters on Sunday as safety Andrew Sendejo and right tackle Mike Remmers have both been ruled out. It will be the second consecutive week with Rashod Hill starting at right tackle in place of Remmers. Sendejo missed the week eight game against Cleveland due to suspension and Anthony Harris filled in for him then. Presumably he will do the same this week.

Remmers’ absence is a bit surprising given that he appeared to be recovering from his concussion suffered week eight. He was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday but suffered a setback and did not participate on Friday.

Everson Griffen is once again listed as questionable but he was confident that he will play against the Rams. He expressed similar confidence last week when he was questionable but ultimately sat out with a foot injury. The Vikings will need Griffen at full strength as fellow defensive end Brian Robison is also questionable with a bad back. Robison did not participate in practice at all this week while Griffen was limited all three days.

The Rams are healthy at just about every position. The only two players on the injury report, tight end Derek Carrier and cornerback Troy Hill, are third-string on the depth chart.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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2 Point Cowboys Podcast: Eagles Week

Steelers flex their Super Bowl muscle

Rams at Vikings: Who has the edge?

What’s in store for the Chiefs in the second half?

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Know the Enemy: Interview with cover32 Rams

Rams at Vikings. Prior to this season, few would have pointed to this game as a potential playoff preview. But the Rams have sneaked up on all of us and some Vikings fans may not truly understand how dangerous this team can be. To help get a grasp of the league’s most pleasantly surprising team, I asked cover32 Rams managing editor Andrew Kelly a few questions about the front-runners in the NFC West.

The Rams wide receiving corps is essentially made up of unknowns and reclamation projects yet they have been tremendously productive this year. How have the likes of Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Sammy Watkins become so successful in this offense?

Kelly: The Rams wide receivers have found a way to be successful by playing with each other. Watkins, Woods, and Kupp are all legitimate threats to catch the ball and make plays which gives the defense issues attempting to cover all of them. Along with strong quarterback and a great running back to keep the defense honest, the Rams receivers are set up to succeed.

Jared Goff’s growth from clear bust as a rookie to leading one of the best offenses in football has been arguably the NFL story of the year. What changes have you seen from him with Sean McVay as coach in 2017?

Goff is more confident in year two and is doing a much better job making decisions. McVay has allowed him to do a better job processing the game, taking shots when necessary but not forcing the ball. Goff is also doing a much better job hanging in the pocket, not fading away and forcing himself into pressure.

Who do you favor in the key matchup of Andrew Whitworth vs. Everson Griffen?

In general, I have to go with Whitworth. Griffen may get him once or twice for a big play, but Whitworth is an elite tackle who has given me no reason to doubt him.

The Rams are top-five in rushing yards and rushing attempts per game. The Minnesota defense is second in both rushing yards and yards per attempt allowed. Are you anticipating a more pass-heavy gameplan from McVay or will he stick with what works, regardless of opponent?

McVay will likely look to stick with what works, at least early in the game. In last week’s matchup McVay went away from the run, but not until later in the game when the Texans had proven they could consistently stop Gurley. If the Vikings prove they can stop the run consistently, I would expect a lot of play-action later in the game and Gurley to be incorporated in the pass game instead of the run.

The Vikings interior line has been solid with rookie Pat Elflein at center and Nick Easton and Joe Berger at the guards. But do they stand a chance of containing, by my estimation, the best defensive player in the game, Aaron Donald? 

Simply put, I don’t think anybody can stop Donald. He is the most dominant player in the NFL in my opinion, and Wade Phillips does a great job of scheming to set him up with a good matchup. Even when Donald does not show up big in the stat sheet, he is a force inside reckon with inside.

Give Andrew a follow and check out cover32 Rams for more great content.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Bill’s bench Tyrod Taylor for Nate Peterman

Tom Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Ezekiel Elliot withdraws his appeal

Opinion: NFL steals home games from fans

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Week 11 Rams @ Vikings: Who Has the Edge?

The unofficial NFL Game of the Week takes place in the city of Minneapolis Sunday as the Vikings welcome the impressive Los Angeles Rams to U.S. Bank Stadium. As two of the top teams in the league, this will be a major test for both squads as they jockey for position atop the NFC and for the potential first round bye.

So how do the rosters compare?

Quarterback

The fact that Case Keenum and Jared Goff are starting the most watchable game of week 11 is fascinating in itself. What makes it even more interesting is how well each is playing this year.

This position battle is closer than Rams fans would like to admit; Keenum has been that steady. But Goff still gets the slight edge as he has been one of the best in the league this year at moving the ball downfield, picking apart the blitz and excelling in the west coast passing attack.

Edge: Rams

Running Back

No real debate here. Todd Gurley is one of the three best backs in the league in both the run and receiving game. He is on the short list for offensive player of the year.

Edge: Rams

Wide Receiver

The Rams’ success on offense this year has been largely due to their receiving corps exceeding expectations. Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins were castoffs from Buffalo and Cooper Kupp was a relative unknown out of Eastern Washington. But they have all been effective and productive targets for Goff.

That being said, none of them are Adam Thielen or Stefon Diggs.

Edge: Vikings

Tight End

Tyler Higbee does not factor all that much in the Sean McVay offense. Kyle Rudolph has at least five receptions in five straight games.

Edge: Vikings

Offensive Line

The Viking line has been solid and rookie Pat Elflein just keeps getting better. Even with injuries the depth has shown up and the pass pro has not missed a beat. Plus, for the first time since Dalvin Cook’s injury, the running lanes were wide open in last week’s victory.

But the Rams have one of the better lines in football. They went out and got All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth to protect the blindside of Goff and it has paid back in spades. Guard Roger Saffold is the eighth-best player at his position on Pro Football Focus.

Edge: Rams

Defensive Line

Assuming Everson Griffen is healthy, the Vikings have one of the two best defensive lines in the league. The Rams are probably a top-five unit themselves, anchored by the best defensive player in the game Aaron Donald and the emerging Michael Brockers but the Vikings are slightly more destructive across the board.

But that is only if Griffen plays. As we saw in week 10, without Griffen the Vikings can struggle to get consistent pressure.

Edge: Vikings (Conditionally)

Linebacker

The Rams have three outside linebackers who know how to get pressure on the quarterback in Connor Barwin, Robert Quinn and Matt Longacre. They do not contribute that much to the run game, however. The leading tacklers for Los Angeles are Marc Barron and Alex Ogletree, who while up-and-down, are supremely athletic and know how to find the football.

Minnesota’s linebacker unit is just a hair more versatile and reliable, even if they make up a smaller percentage of the defensive unit. Slight edge to Minnesota.

Edge: Vikings

Defensive Back

Outside of safety Lamarcus Joyner, the Rams secondary does not have a lot of proven standouts. That being said, they have held most opposing quarterbacks in check all season, even if that crop of opposing quarterbacks is not particularly fear-inducing.

The Vikings defensive backfield looked a little suspect for the first time all year in week 10, but they made plays and their resume of consistent dominance is largely unmatched across the league. Advantage Minnesota.

Edge: Vikings

Special Teams

The two kickers in this game are two of the best in football this year so that is a wash. The returners are two of the most efficient in the NFL so that is a wash. And while Johnny Hekker’s punting distance numbers are far better than Ryan Quigley’s, they have similar stats for punts inside the 20 and average yards per return. Plus, Quigley’s punts have many more fair catches. So we will call that one a wash too.

Edge: Draw

Final Score

This is the classic “Unstoppable Force vs. Immovable Object” game. The stout defense of Minnesota against the high-powered offense of Los Angeles.

While it is true the Rams have played a lot of sub-par opponents, they have put up a lot of points against those opponents and won the games they are supposed to win. They, along with the Vikes, Eagles and Saints, are clearly among the best and most complete teams in the league.

This is going to be a close game, that much is for certain. I believe the Rams will come out firing and hold a lead through the first half, but the Vikings will shape up, hold their ground and pull out the narrow victory on their home turf.

Prediction: Vikings 27, Rams 26

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Bill’s bench Tyrod Taylor for Nate Peterman

Tom Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Ezekiel Elliot withdraws his appeal

Opinion: NFL steals home games from fans

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Case Keenum’s Greatest Attributes? Pocket Poise and Maneuverability

The Vikings offensive line has taken a demonstrable step forward from a year ago, no question about it. The acquisition of Riley Reiff for the left tackle spot is probably the best move Rick Spielman made in the offseason and rookie Pat Elflein looks like a seasoned veteran at the center spot. And what is more, even when starters Nick Easton and Mike Remmers went down with injury, Jeremiah Sirles and Rashod Hill filled the spots without missing a beat for the most part.

They deserve praise for being a strength, not the weakness they were in 2016. But they do not deserve all the credit for the way the quarterback has been kept clean all year. A lot of that has to go to the presence and mobility of one Case Keenum.

Keenum has been sacked just five times this year through nine games. For what it is worth Sam Bradford was sacked the same number of times in just six quarters of play this year. Granted, four of those came in one game, week five at Chicago, by far the offensive line’s worst performance. But the discrepancy in sacks between the two quarterbacks is fascinating, considering they have had the same five men in front of them. The naked eye can gauge the main reason: Bradford, while he has a stronger and generally more accurate arm, is a statue in the pocket. He extends plays not with his legs so much as by checking down when the pressure nears. Or he takes the sack. Keenum, on the other hand, maneuvers as well as anyone.

This is not meant as a knock against Elflein, Easton or Joe Berger, but Keenum is going to need every ounce of his mobility against the Rams on Sunday. With very few exceptions, the interior line has blocked very well in pass pro and just so-so in the run. But Easton and Elflein have gotten better every game and Elflein is coming off a week where Pro Football Focus graded him as the top center of week 10. That being said, they are going against the best pass-rushing defensive tackle since Warren Sapp on Sunday in Aaron Donald.

And that is just on the interior; Connor Barwin, Matt Longacre and Robert Quinn are no slouches coming off the edge. And the Minnesota offensive tackles, though Keenum was not sacked, did not have their best game against Washington. Keenum faced pressure on 13 of 30 dropbacks and his mobility prevented at least six sacks.

Some were obvious like this one:

Others were just a subtle step-up:

There were also a couple plays where Keenum maneuvered himself into pressure, but had the athleticism to get out of it again. That type of play will have to be stricken from his repertoire for this week’s game.

But for the most part, Keenum’s sense of pressure and ability to find secure footing inside and outside the pocket are big reasons why he remains the starter for the time being. And they are also big reasons why Los Angeles’ fearsome pass rush seems just a hair less frightening than it is for other teams.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Bill’s bench Tyrod Taylor for Nate Peterman

Tom Brady named AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Ezekiel Elliot withdraws his appeal

Opinion: NFL steals home games from fans

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Re-Evaluating Danielle Hunter as a Pass Rusher

I am going to stand somewhat corrected. In my post-game analysis and my Three Up, Three Down column, I was a bit down on the performance of Danielle Hunter. Upon first viewing, it seemed like he was largely invisible as a pass-rusher through much of the game despite playing a pass-heavy offense. It felt especially apparent because he was more or less called to take on the role usually handled by Everson Griffen, who missed the game because of an injured foot.

But when I went back to the tape, I saw that Hunter was not invisible. His performance was more than I originally identified. That being said, it still was not at the level fans expect from the third-year pass-rusher, given he led the team in sacks a year ago. Essentially, if my original grade for Hunter for the game was a C-minus, I have upgraded him to a C-plus.

I will say this up top: Hunter was pretty good in run support. Considering Hunter’s job is more of that 1’pin your ears back” type of defensive end, there was no noticeable drop-off between Hunter and Griffen in the run game. He set the edge well, played the zone runs effectively and stuck his nose in there for a handful of tackles. There are no issues with his play in this area.

But I read a comment or two over the weekend about how fans expected Hunter to have double-digit sacks by this point in the season. I will be honest, I share a part of that sentiment. Heading into 2017, I felt Hunter was the better pure pass-rusher between him and Griffen, given his length and excellent speed around the edge. But there has been no comparison between the two as Griffen is among the league-leaders in sacks and Hunter is a distant second on Minnesota.

A prevailing explanation (read excuse) for Hunter’s pedestrian sack number is that teams are consistently double-teaming and chipping him, which obviously makes it difficult to get a good run off the edge. So I examined Sunday’s game against Washington to see if that actually was the case.

Of his 48 pass rush snaps, Hunter was double-teamed four times and chipped three times. That is 14.6 percent of pass rushes where help was sent to block Hunter. Which, needless to say is a pretty minute number of times. Washington is not inclined to send a lot of help to left tackle Trent Williams given that he has been and remains one of the league’s best pass-protectors.

So Hunter was one-on-one for the vast majority of the game and, again, he did all right. He recorded four pressures and one sack on 48 pass rush snaps, a pressure rate of 8.3 percent. That number does not put him in the category of the elite but it is a decent enough number considering who he was matched up with for about 40 of those snaps.

The issue is that Hunter does not finish plays as much as one would expect. He gets pressure a decent amount but fans want yards to be lost. In this game, the reason for the pressure without the sack was always because Kirk Cousins had a quick trigger and knew to get the ball out even with the defender in his face. If Hunter was just that one step quicker, he would have had two or three sacks.

Beyond that, there really is not anything to look at and criticize Hunter for in this game. He consistently made Williams work hard to keep him out of the backfield, he exploded through the middle of the line on stunts and his speed was certainly a factor late in the game when the Redskins were passing every down. He has all the tools, just the results are mixed.

We will continue to look at Hunter as the season progresses to see if we can identify any particular flaws in his game. For now, it just looks like an issue of finishing plays after getting initial pressure.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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It’s time to stick a fork in the Bengals

Raiders’ coordinators face dynamic opponent

3 Up, 3 Down; Vikings hold off Redskins

Broncos were out-coached in loss to the Patriots

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The Differences between the 2016 and 2017 Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is five games above .500 with a tough schedule looming ahead. With the Packers and Lions under-performing though, it looks like they are poised to grab the NFC North by the horns a little earlier than expected.

Sound familiar? There was a similar sentiment a season ago when the Vikings got off to a red-hot 5-0 start only to drop four straight out of the bye and finish 8-8 and out of the postseason. That squad, while immensely talented in some areas were equally limited in others and it cost them big down the stretch.

The 2017 Vikings do not appear to share those weaknesses. They have maintained a high level of play throughout, putting up over 30 points in back-to-back games and are tied for the second seed in the NFC. While retaining a lot of the same players from a year ago, the Vikings have managed to somehow look like a completely different ball club.

How have they pulled that off?

The Constant

Let’s start with what has not changed.

Obviously, the defense is still one of the league’s best, ranking near the top in yards per play, net yards per passing attempt and points allowed. They are a disciplined unit with one of the lowest numbers of penalties and penalty yardage. They take the ball away a decent amount but not at an elite level, instead relying on stopping their opponents in their tracks.

The quarterback situation is similar with someone above-average, playing efficiently with a yards per attempt around 7.0 and a rating in the 90s. The stellar one-two receiving punch is the same, the weapon at tight end is the same.

These are the strengths that, like last year, has put the Vikings in position for a potential first-round bye. So then, what is different? What makes this team better suited to maintain their success in a way last year’s team could not?

The Offensive Line

The biggest change, the most important change. Sam Bradford was on the run every other snap a year ago, sacked 37 times and hit dozens more. Rick Spielman clearly made improving this unit his number one priority, completely overhauling it with free agent acquisitions, draft picks and reassignments. Left tackle Riley Reiff has been the biggest change, bringing some much-needed stability to the most important position. The pick of Pat Elflein, though it showed mixed immediate results, has proven to be a good one as he gets better every week. Even the depth is impressive with Rashod Hill, Jeremiah Sirles and Danny Isidora all filling in at points and doing so admirably.

Nothing is a greater indicator of the improved line play than the rushing attack. Minnesota ranked dead-last in the league a year ago in rushing yards and yards per attempt. This year they are 20th in yards per attempt and 11th in yards per game. Sure, they do not yet have one of the best in the league, but the improved line play has put them in a position to have a balanced offensive attack. Their pass-to-run ratio is pretty close to one-to-one and it has allowed them to take full advantage of the play action game.

To put it simply, this team’s ability to sustain success has and will continue to hinge on the offensive line.

Run Defense

This may come as a bit of a surprise but the Vikings were somewhat of a middle-of-the-road run-stopping team a year ago. They were 17th in the league in yards per attempt allowed and 20th in rushing yards. Even with Linval Joseph making his first Pro Bowl, this was not the area of strength it is now.

In 2017 the Vikings are second in both total rushing yards and yards per attempt allowed. Joseph has emerged as one of the league’s premier run-stuffers and a healthy Tom Johnson looks to be a more reliable option to start than Shamar Stephen.

Part of this uptick is the improved play of Anthony Barr. Though he made the Pro Bowl last season, it was really a down year for him. The Barr fans know has been everywhere in 2017, flying to the ball from sideline-to-sideline. Eric Kendricks has also taken great strides in his third season and leads the team in tackles by a wide margin.

Complement a stout run defense with an excellent pass rush and an elite secondary and you have a complete defense that can win anywhere. With games in Atlanta, Carolina and Detroit looming, that is going to factor big into their success.

Special Teams

The 2016 Vikings, like this year, had one of the better return units in the league, largely because of Marcus Sherels. But they were a mediocre group in the kick game. Blair Walsh spent nine games trying to shake off the cobwebs of his missed kick in the previous postseason but he could not do it and was ultimately cut. Kai Forbath made every field goal but, like this year, missed some PATs.

This year Kai Forbath has arguably been one of the two best kickers in football. He has made all five of his kicks from 50-plus and has missed just one of 23 attempts. His PAT yips still upset fans but that can be forgiven if he keeps making the long ones. Ryan Quigley, though his totals are lackluster, is a definite improvement from Jeff Locke a year ago due to Quigley’s ability to pin opponents inside the 20 when drives stall.

But the biggest improvement is in the coverage unit. At the midway point, Pro Football Focus put the Vikings at the very top of the league in special teams due in large part to their exceptional coverage team. Two players, Kentrell Brothers and C.J. Ham, have seven tackles in kick coverage and the unit as a whole has missed just two tackles all season. It seems like a small thing but the ability to limit good field position gives the defense an incredible advantage.

There are other things that have changed: Pat Shurmur has gotten more comfortable with creative play-calling and route combinations, Trae Waynes has taken a massive step and the specters of both a missed opportunity in the postseason and a gruesome injury to the starting quarterback are well in the rearview mirror.

But the three improvements above are the basis for why the Vikings have and should remain one of the true contenders in the NFC.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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It’s time to stick a fork in the Bengals

Raiders’ coordinators face dynamic opponent

3 Up, 3 Down; Vikings hold off Redskins

Broncos were out-coached in loss to the Patriots

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Three Up, Three Down as Vikings Hold Off Redskins

The most encouraging takeaway from Minnesota’s 38-30 win in Washington was the fact that they played an imperfect game and still won convincingly. It was not a blowout but there was no question who the better team was Sunday, and that was with all the mistakes made on both sides of the ball. As usual with this team, there were more positives than negatives but here are a few of each.

Three Up

The Keenum-Thielen Connection

These two are so in sync that their production alone should give fans pause about turning the reigns over to Teddy Bridgewater. Keenum had a passer rating of 145.1 when targeting Thielen, which was the best mark for a receiver all week. Thielen caught eight of nine targets and averaged a season-high 6.15 yards per route run.

No single play displayed their level of simpatico more than Thielen’s touchdown reception where Keenum scrambled right, Thielen planted himself in a gap in the secondary and Keenum fired a strike an inch out of the defender’s grasp and right on the edge of Thielen’s catch radius. They have something special going.

The Size of Running Lanes

As good as the offensive line has been in pass pro, they have left something to be desired in opening up running lanes, especially since Dalvin Cook went down. But Sunday, the holes were not only there for the taking, they were often big enough to drive a truckload of Latavius Murrays through them.

The average was not exceptional at 3.7 yards per carry. But a couple of those were short yardage sitations like a fullback dive and a one-yard touchdown run so the true total is closer to four. But considering Murray has been at below two yards per carry more often than not, this was a big step forward.

Tom Johnson and Mackensie Alexander

Cheating a little by putting two names but these are two names who get little fanfare on this defense and they both made things happen. Johnson especially stood out as, without Everson Griffen, no one on the defensive line played particularly well. Not even Linval Joseph, who usually at least dominates in the run game even when the pass rush is ineffective. But Johnson outplayed his interior line mate in both aspects, recording pressures on 10 percent of pass rush snaps and a key solo stop in the backfield on a late fourth down.

Alexander, the birthday boy, had more of an up-and-down day, allowing a long reception and very nearly another. But when the opportunity to make plays came his way he made them. First was an interception, his first as a pro, that the defense desperately needed at the end of the second quarter. The second was a touchdown-saving deflection where he found the ball and made a great break on it in front of the receiver.

Without both of these guys making plays down the stretch the final could have been much less encouraging.

Three Down

The Typical Strengths of the Defense

Mike Zimmer defenses thrive on great pass coverage and outside pass rush which allows him to utilize the double A-gap blitz he is so fond of. But neither was really apparent Sunday. The coverage was soft all game, even from All-Pro-caliber players like Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith. Truth be told, the best cover was Trae Waynes whose only big play allowed was the result of an exceptional catch by Maurice Harris and not bad coverage.

The pass rush was no better. They turned it on late in the fourth quarter when they could let loose since every down was a passing down but Cousins was pretty comfortable from the start. His completion percentage was not exceptional but his receivers did him no favors, dropping two touchdowns and slipping while wide open on a third. And those three happened on consecutive plays. Truth be told, it seems the Redskins too often beat themselves rather than the Vikes’ D beating them.

Dumb Penalties at Costly Times

Two penalties in particular led to scoring drives for the Redskins. First was a roughing-the-passer call on Linval Joseph on a third down incomplete pass where he unnecessarily leaped high to hit Cousins. The result was a Washington first down and they ultimately kicked a field goal.

The second and more egregious penalty was committed by Stefon Diggs. After scoring a touchdown in the second quarter, Diggs jumped up and hugged the field goal post. It was objectively funny but also violated one of the few restrictions that remain with celebrations and led to a fifteen-yard penalty. Washington returned the kickoff to their 40 and scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive. Though Minnesota would shake those mistakes off and build a sizable lead, they were still costly in the moment.

A Definitive Answer at Quarterback

For the better part of three quarters it looked like Keenum had the starting job as locked down as possible for the foreseeable future. Of course, Bridgewater has captured the hearts of many and seeing his emotion on the sideline pregame was cathartic but Keenum was playing better than anyone can really ask for a quarterback to play. The job was his for the taking.

And then he threw interceptions on back-to-back throws and the whole feeling of the game and the quarterback situation shifted. Washington took advantage of the turnovers to turn a near-blowout into a one-score game. The first interception was forgivable; it was third-and-eight, the play had broken down and he was just trying to make a desperate play downfield. It essentially turned into a mediocre punt.

The second was much more worrisome. He completely misread the defense and D.J. Swearinger jumped it and returned it all the way to the two. That play alone could easily have sunk the Vikings.

So now that Keenum’s lasting impressions are more those two throws than the 158.3 in the first half, the clamors for Teddy continue like they have all year. For what it is worth, Mike Zimmer announced today that he will name the starter on Wednesday. Stay tuned.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

AROUND COVER32

Joe Haden out indefinetly with broken fibula

Top 10: NFL’s most Patriotic Moments

Giants embarassed by the winless 49ers

A statistical breakdown of Colts vs Steelers

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Vikings Pull Out Tough Road Win: Instant Reactions

What a roller coaster game that was. It looked like a shootout at first, then the Vikings pulled away, then Washington came back but ultimately, the Vikes were able to hold on for a big win 38-30 on the road.

General Impression

The first takeaway from this game was how unstoppable the offense looked for 80 percent of it. Everything clicked; the offensive line opened holes like it had not all season, the throws were crisp, the skill players made plays. It was fun to watch before Case Keenum started turning the ball over in the second half.

Then there was the defense. It struggled all game to get pressure and stop the run, two things it had done exceptionally well all year. It was clear that the absence of Everson Griffen had a huge impact on the game as Kirk Cousins was too comfortable in the pocket.

But in a tough environment against a sneaky good team, coming away with a win was all fans could ask for. It was closer than it should have been but it was a good one for the playoff resume.

Who Stood Out

The whole offense looked great for much of the game. Everyone. But if I had to pick one, it would have to be Adam Thielen, once again. There is just something about the Keenum-Thielen connection that works. Keenum played arguably the best half of his career in the first, entering the break with a perfect rating. Thielen was a big part of that and he kept his five-catch streak going with 166 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. They were cocky about it, too with Keenum just lofting passes up nonchalantly, knowing it would be right on the money and Thielen would run under it perfectly. But then Keenum imploded a bit with interceptions on back-to-back possessions, resulting in Washington getting back into it.

Still, Thielen’s performance kept them ahead most of the way; he has officially eclipsed Diggs as the number one target for Keenum.

Who Struggled

With Everson Griffen out due to a foot injury, others needed to step up. Danielle Hunter was chosen to go against star left tackle Trent Williams and he did not deliver as fans would hope. The pass rush as a whole was lackluster all game, recording just one sack and five quarterback hits but Hunter specifically stands out because of the shoes he was asked to fill today. He got a couple pressures and a late sack when Washington was in desperation mode and he could just pin his ears back but it was the veteran Brian Robison who provided more of the Griffen-like production.

Really the whole defense seemed off today, allowing a season-high 394 yards. Linval Joseph, who is used to being the immovable object in the middle, struggled to get any movement up front. Coverage from everyone, from Xavier Rhodes to Harrison Smith to Eric Kendricks, was surprisingly loose. It kept a struggling Washington team in the game even though the Vikings offense was dominant.

Looking Ahead

The Vikes get a one-week homestand before three straight road games. Unfortunately, that single home game is against one of the best teams in the NFC in the Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota is in good position at 7-2 but the schedule is getting really tough moving forward with playoff-hopefuls virtual every week from here on out. Minnesota needs to maintain this offensive firepower if they hope to compete for a first round bye.

Read Clayton Brooks’ game recap here.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

AROUND COVER32

Midseason Report Card: Philadelphia Eagles

What is the best case scenario for the Chargers in Week 10?

Thursday Night Preview: Seahawks at Cardinals

Broncos look to get back on track against Patriots

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Vikings Saturday News and Notes Week 10

The big news for the Vikings this week was the decision to activate Teddy Bridgewater and move Sam Bradford to IR to make room. As we have discussed before, it appears Case Keenum will remain the starting quarterback for the time being given his productive play. However, if he begins to struggle, fans are going to get antsy to see Bridgewater back on the field again. Time will tell.

Aside from that, it has been a slow news week coming off the bye. The team signed guard Willie Beavers to the practice squad and released practice squad running back Bronson Hill on Tuesday. But beyond nursing a few injuries, the team has done well to stay out of the headlines and took advantage of the time off to get healthy. Speaking of which…

Injury Report

Some key players appear to be fully healthy, namely Stefon Diggs and Nick Easton. Both were full participants Friday and have no designation on the injury report. But with their return comes a few losses; Jeremiah Sirles, who replaced Easton for two weeks, is officially ruled out and starting right tackle Mike Remmers will also miss Sunday’s game due to a concussion. Presumably Rashod Hill will fill in at right tackle like he did in London two weeks ago.

On the defensive side, the biggest concern is star end Everson Griffen, who is questionable with a foot injury. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday and was limited Friday. Head coach Mike Zimmer said Friday he anticipates Griffen will play but of course, there will be the question as to how much the foot limits his productivity.

Safety Anthony Harris and end Stephen Weatherly are also questionable. Harris filled in for Andrew Sendejo during Sendejo’s one-game suspension but with Sendejo returning tomorrow, Harris’ potential absence will not loom quite as large.

Washington has a whole crop of ifs on their injury report. Matthew Ioannidis, who has been their best defensive lineman of late, has officially been ruled out, as has fellow defensive tackle Arthur Jones. Then after that it is a lot of questionables: Left tackle Trent Williams, right guard Brandon Scherff, left guard Shawn Lauvao, center Spencer Long, right tackle Morgan Moses, swing tackle Ty Nsekhe, tight end Jordan Reed, receiver Jamison Crowder, leading tackler Zach Brown and safety Montae Nicholson. That is nine starters listed as questionable, including the entire offensive line and two of their leading receivers. Even their emergency tackle is injured.

Should be a good day for sacking the quarterback.

Prediction: Vikings 23, Redskins 17 –Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Midseason Report Card: Philadelphia Eagles

What is the best case scenario for the Chargers in Week 10?

Thursday Night Preview: Seahawks at Cardinals

Broncos look to get back on track against Patriots

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Vikings @ Redskins: Who Has the Edge?

This is a big game for both of these teams; Washington because the Eagles are putting some distance between them and everyone else in the NFC East, the Vikings because they have five tough road games facing them in the second half. They have to get off to a good start in this first one.

Let us take a look at how the rosters match up.

Quarterback

Case Keenum has played well this year but Kirk Cousins is a franchise quarterback who is going to make a lot of money soon. Cousins is sixth in the league in yards per attempt at 8.0 (among quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts) compared to Keenum’s 6.9. He is also one of only seven qualified quarterbacks with a rating over 100, and he is doing it with one of the league’s worst receiving corps.

Edge: Redskins

Running Back

Dalvin Cook’s injury set the Vikings back a bit in the running game, but Latavius Murray and especially Jerick McKinnon have picked up the slack admirably. The Redskins, on the other hand, rank in the bottom half of the league in yards per attempt and yards per game with Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson handling the carries, though Chris Thompson has become one of the league’s top receiving backs.

Edge: Vikings

Wide Receiver

As mentioned above, the Redskins receiving production is sparse, to say the least. Their leader in catches by a comfortable margin is running back Chris Thompson followed by Jamison Crowder, who is questionable to play this Sunday. Of the team’s top five receivers, only two, Crowder and Ryan Grant, are wide receivers. The Vikings, when right, have one of the most dangerous duos in football in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Edge: Vikings

Tight End

Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis were both limited in practice, though Davis is expected to play. If both play then no question, edge to Washington. But Reed’s injury makes it close. Kyle Rudolph has nine more catches than Davis but Davis has 100 more yards. Because of the greater downfield threat and the possibility of Reed playing, slight edge to the Redskins here.

Edge: Redskins

Offensive Line

Through the early part of the season, the Redskins had one of the better lines in the game. But then left tackle Trent Williams went down and his replacement T.J. Clemmings imploded for two weeks. The Vikings, though a little banged up, have remained largely healthy and effective all season, particularly in pass pro. If Williams is out again for Washington, the Vikings get the slight edge. Otherwise, it goes to the Skins.

Edge: Vikings (Conditionally)

Defensive Line

The Redskins’ interior has good performances with Matthew Ioannidis manning the middle, but they have more weaknesses than strengths there. The Vikings, on the other hand, are stronger on the defensive line than anywhere else. Clear edge Minnesota.

Edge: Vikings

Linebacker

Again, Minnesota’s 4-3 group of Barr, Kendricks and Gedeon is really good, but hard to compare to 3-4 pass rushers Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. Washington’s middle linebacker Zach Brown is currently the league’s leading tackler and the two edge rushers have combined for 10.5 sacks. Like Baltimore, the linebackers play a more featured role in Washington’s defensive schemes than the Vikings’ do, but are they more effective? Tough to say. We will call this one a draw.

Edge: Draw

Defensive Back

Washington has one of the more solid secondaries in football with Josh Norman, Kendall Fuller and D.J. Swearinger. Keenum will certainly have his work cut out for him trying to pick them apart Sunday. But they still are not as complete as the Vikings’ secondary with a couple lock down corners and hard-nosed safeties. Not by a landslide, but Vikings have the advantage.

Edge: Vikings

Special Teams

Kai Forbath has been one of the best field goal kickers in the league this year. And while he kicks everything short, Ryan Quigley has had success pinning opponents inside the 20. Washington punter Tress Way has better numbers than Quigley, but not by a lot and kicker Nick Rose does not compare to Forbath, nor does Washington’s return game, which ranks near the bottom.

Edge: Vikings

Final Score

A 4-4 record does not exactly scare you, but the Redskins can be a tough team, depending on the week. They are coming off a big win at Seattle and with Dallas and Philadelphia starting to pull away in the division, they need to hold serve at home if they want to stay in the playoff race. Kirk Cousins is probably going to throw the ball a lot but against this defense, he will likely have just mixed success. Against the Redskins defense, which is deceptively strong despite ranking in the middle in just about every category, Keenum and the offense will probably have another field goal-heavy game, but they are the better team and should come out victorious.

Prediction: Vikings 23, Redskins 17 –Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Midseason Report Card: Philadelphia Eagles

What is the best case scenario for the Chargers in Week 10?

Thursday Night Preview: Seahawks at Cardinals

Broncos look to get back on track against Patriots

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Five Questions for Vikings @ Redskins

It feels like forever since the Vikings took the field for a normal game. Well they finally get to return to action Sunday when they travel to Washington for the first of five road games in the second half of the season.

From listening to the pundits it appears the Vikings have become somewhat forgotten in the NFC race, despite being second in the conference. To be fair, the Vikings do have some questions coming out of the bye. Here are just a few for the battle with the Redskins.

Is Case Keenum on a leash with the activation of Teddy Bridewater?

This is not so much a question for this week alone but for the remainder of the season. It seems that the Vikings coaching staff is satisfied with giving Keenum the reigns to the offense until he falters and if he does, they are ready to start Bridgewater. They have not been clear with the situation, to be sure, expressing full confidence in both quarterbacks.

Keenum has not had anyone looming in all of his time as Vikings starter due to Sam Bradford’s knee injury. Now Bridewater is there, anxious to play after missing a year and a half, and apparently ready to go mentally and physically. We will see what kind of hook the Vikings have with Keenum. He has played well, but Bridgewater is, theoretically, the franchise.

Can Stefon Diggs and Case Keenum reignite their connection from earlier in the season?

Diggs and Adam Thielen were both putting up big numbers with Keenum feeding them the ball through the first four games. Then Diggs tweaked his groin against Chicago and missed two weeks. When he returned against Cleveland, he looked like the Diggs fans know, getting wide open downfield on more than one occasion. But for whatever reason, Keenum just missed him every time.

In his last two games, Diggs has just five catches for 31 yards. Keenum has clearly started to gravitate towards Thielen lately but Diggs appears to be fully healthy and and had the bye week to re-establish their chemistry. Hopefully the Vikings can get the full effect of their top flight receiving duo back.

What effect does the bye have on the Vikings?

A year ago, lest fans forget, Minnesota went into the bye 5-0 and then proceeded to lose their next four coming out of it. That team finished 8-8 and missed the postseason.

The Vikings have a tough road schedule coming up in the second half, no question about it. On the one hand, the bye may have come at just the right time, giving them the extra energy for their five road games in the next eight weeks. On the other hand, this team was rolling at 6-2 with four straight wins so maybe the bye came at the exact wrong time.

What we know is this: The Vikings have some key players nursing injuries, namely Everson Griffen, and the bye brought the opportunity to heal up. Both sides of the ball appear to be more prepared for the long haul than they were last year, so that should mean the bye was only a positive. If the Vikings come out sluggish in Washington, however, expect some fans to harken immediately back to 2016.

Will there be a battle of superstars on the left side of the line?

Everson Griffen vs. Trent Williams. The dominant pass rusher against one of the game’s premier pass protectors. The story of the game writes itself.

But both are wounded right now. Griffen did not participate yesterday in practice due to a foot injury and Williams has missed the last two games with knee problems. Former Viking T.J. Clemmings was a liability in Williams’ stead those two games so if Griffen plays and Williams does not, it could get ugly.

Fortunately for Washington, their swing tackle Ty Nsekhe’s core muscle injury is improving so he could get the call if Williams cannot. Williams did not participate in practice on Wednesday and his readiness for Sunday is in doubt.

Washington receivers versus the Vikings secondary

The Redskins have a dearth of skill position players on their offense, to the point where it is almost shocking they are still a productive unit. A lot of that credit goes to their quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is working with, besides a bad receiving corps, also a depleted offensive line and zero running game.

Given the Vikings strong secondary, this appears to be a mismatch in Minnesota’s favor. However, a week ago the Redskins went into Seattle and, against their vaunted secondary, made just enough plays downfield to pull out the win. That included a 38-yard reception by Josh Doctson in the final two minutes that set up the game-winning touchdown.

The point is, as unspectacular as they may seem, the Vikings defensive backfield cannot sleep on these receivers. They have already proven that they can be stagnant through three quarters and then make the big plays when they need to.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

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Midseason Report Card: Philadelphia Eagles

What is the best case scenario for the Chargers in Week 10?

Thursday Night Preview: Seahawks at Cardinals

Broncos look to get back on track against Patriots

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Zooming In: Adam Thielen, the Most Reliable Target in Football?

It would have been a crazy thought two years ago. Heck, it was a crazy thought in August but the fact is that Adam Thielen has established himself as one of the most reliable producers from the wide receiver position.

Yes, an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State, Mankato who made the Vikings in 2013 at a rookie tryout is among the league’s best. No other receiver recorded at least five catches in each of the first eight weeks of the season. He is currently sixth in the NFL in both targets and receiving yards, fourth in yards per game and tied for second in receptions of 20-plus yards. He ranks near the top of the league in yards per route run, earning him seventh-best graded receiver by Pro Football Focus.

What makes his production all the more impressive is he is not the huge play receiver in the mold of T.Y. Hilton, Antonio Brown or Julio Jones; his 13.1 yards per reception are 40th best and his touchdown week eight against Cleveland was his first of the season. No, Thielen gets his production by being steady. He finds ways to get open 10, 20 yards downfield and has the strong hands to make plays in traffic.

Let’s go to the tape.

Route Running and Hands

The two most important features of a successful NFL wide receiver. Thielen has both in spades.

Thielen (Top) releases inside, appearing to set up for a slant or post route. The corner stays on his back hip with good coverage to prepare for a possible cutback. Thielen in fact does break inside, causing the defender to bite just a hair too much and Thielen hits him with the double move.

Another, less obvious feature of this is how Thielen reads the safety.  He sees him cheat ever so slightly his way and makes his post corner route a little more shallow to keep separation from him. Keenum throws to a deeper post corner, making it a riskier play and also allowing the corner to recover. Thielen makes a great adjustment on the ball and a tough catch in traffic.

Winning Battles at the Line

This is an area where so many talented receivers fail and therefore never make it in the bigs.

Thielen (Top) runs a simple slant route here. He gets jammed hard but he is able to quickly discard the corner, leaving him wide open for an easy 12 yard gain.

Speed

Crossing routes are designed to get defenders in man coverage caught up in all of the other routes and defenders, leaving the receiver open on the other side. That does not really happen here. This was just a matter of Thielen (Bottom) having breakaway speed and using it to get open for the easy pitch and catch.

Ability to Improvise

This play did not count due to an errant chop block call but it gives a good impression of Thielen’s connection with quarterback Case Keenum.

The coverage is good on the crossing route but Thielen (Bottom) looks back at his quarterback and sees he has stopped his rollout. He sticks his foot in the ground and takes a couple steps to his right, creating a good ten feet of separation. And since every defender has flowed to the other side of the field, he has plenty of room for YAC.

The wide receiver position is so often just about the little things; a step here, a head fake there, the ability to read the slightest movements from a defender make all the difference. That is what separates Thielen from everyone else: the little things.

–Sam Smith is the Managing Editor for cover32/Vikings. Like and Follow @samc_smith Follow @cover32_MIN

AROUND COVER32

The Truth about Jared Goff and Carson Wentz

The Forgotten Star: La’el Collins

McMagic vs Fitzpatrick: Jets prepare for showdown

Sam Bradford may be heading to I.R.

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