Favorable Schedule Offers Vikings Opportunity to Get on Another Roll
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Corridor of Fame Coach Bud Grant all the time stated his groups had to play properly sufficient not to enable the officers to have a serious affect on the result of video games due to dangerous calls.
That was my second thought after first questioning how the referee and one other official within the neighborhood may probably miss the facemask seize of Sam Darnold on the sack/security by the Rams’ Byron Younger that sealed the Vikings’ 30-20 loss in L.A.
Favorable Schedule Offers Vikings Opportunity to Get on Another Roll
The Vikings nonetheless would’ve had to drive one other 80 yards with 1:36 remaining and no timeouts, however they had been robbed of the chance on an apparent missed name. The NFL wants to change the replay guidelines to enable for a evaluate of potential facemask penalties. Perhaps this important miss by the officers would be the impetus for change. The referee (who was closest to the play) claimed he couldn’t see the facemask seize, but it surely was apparent the best way Darnold was yanked down, and that Younger instantly put his arms to his face as he knew he’d made an enormous mistake.
” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/darnoldhapp.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=696,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/darnoldhapp.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”” class=”wp-image-132568″/> Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Getting again to Grant’s idea on officers, the sport was definitely winnable for the Vikings regardless of the superb efficiency by Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who had 4 TD passes (and together with his prime two receivers again and making a big impact — Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua).
Now, the troublesome early season schedule — with 5 2023 playoff groups within the first seven video games — turns extra favorable for the Vikings. There are not any straightforward video games in an NFL season, however the path ahead has two groups at present with shedding data over the following 5 weeks — Jacksonville (2-6) and Tennessee (1-6), though each video games are on the street. Indianapolis is 4-4 with QB Anthony Richardson struggling because the Vikings and Colts meet on Sunday evening at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Arizona can also be 4-4 at present,y and Chicago (4-3 off their disastrous Hail Mary loss in Washington) is the one workforce with a profitable file in these subsequent 5 video games.
It’s an enormous blow to the Vikings’ offensive line to have to play with out their wonderful left sort out, Christian Darrisaw, who’s out for the season with a knee harm from the Rams sport. A lift will come from the return of Professional Bowl tight finish T.J. Hockenson within the Colts sport. And the Vikings protection will hope to have star inside linebacker Blake Cashman again within the lineup on Sunday if he’s recovered from his turf toe harm. He has been sorely missed within the losses to the Lions and the Rams.
Listed below are my different reactions to the Vikings loss on the Rams:
1. It was a disappointing final two video games because the Vikings fell from unbeaten to 5-2, however the Vikings had been aggressive in each video games. In my preseason prediction, I had the Purple at 2-5 by seven video games (earlier than ending sturdy at 9-8), so they’re nonetheless in nice form to make a run on the NFC North title or a wild card spot. Simply splitting their final 10 video games would get them to 10-7, which needs to be playoff-bound, however I feel they’ll attain 12 wins, which might not be sufficient to catch Detroit (or probably Inexperienced Bay) however ought to acquire the No. 5 or 6 seed within the NFC playoffs.
2. The Vikings’ “self-inflicteds” (as Kevin O’Connell calls them) had been an enormous a part of shedding to the Rams, together with 9 penalties for 50 yards and a ridiculous 5 first downs by penalty on protection to lengthen drives and lead to scores for the Rams offense. The offense had one other three pre-snap penalties to put a number of drives behind the chains. The Vikings should clear up their penalty-ridden points in all three phases.
” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/USATSI_24576352.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/USATSI_24576352.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”” class=”wp-image-133841″ /> Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
3. The Vikings offense began the sport with two wonderful landing drives by which Justin Jefferson was focused 5 instances with 5 receptions for 68 yards. The offense produced solely two subject targets on the following seven drives, with Jefferson having no targets on 10 performs run within the fourth quarter, which continued a current pattern of not concentrating on him sufficient (9 targets on this sport and just one sport this season with double-digit targets — towards the Jets in London).
I name {that a} “self-inflicted” by Darnold for not wanting Jefferson’s manner sufficient and O’Connell not emphasizing sufficient to get the ball to the NFL’s greatest receiver and the workforce’s greatest participant, whilst he’s normally double-covered.
4. Jefferson’s wonderful (however not shocking for him) 27-yard juggling catch early within the third quarter is one other instance of the performs he’s able to making on an everyday foundation if given sufficient targets.
That catch arrange the Vikings with 1st-and-Aim from the Rams 4. I perceive working Aaron Jones on the following play towards the Rams run D, who ranked thirtieth within the sport, and Jones speeding for 38 yards within the first half (with a 4.2-yard common). However Jones misplaced 4 yards on that first-down carry, establishing 2nd-and-Aim from the 8, and O’Connell made a poor resolution to name one other run for Jones (or possibly Darnold ought to have audibled to a cross play) when Darnold had success by the air within the first half, particularly to Jefferson.
Jones gained three yards on the wasted play, and the third-down cross fell incomplete, with Will Reichard kicking a 23-yard subject aim to put the Vikings forward 17-14. The Rams took the lead with Stafford’s 25-yard TD cross to Demarcus Robinson on the following collection.
” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/jjetsgb.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=615,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/jjetsgb.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”” class=”wp-image-133048″/> Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
5. As was the case with Jared Goff and the Lions, Stafford attacked the Vikings’ protection with lots of throws over the center that was lacking Cashman’s excellence in cross D and fast throws, together with a number of screens to Nacua, Kupp, and working again in Kyren Williams (who scored the Rams’ first TD when he beat Ivan Tempo to the within for a 5-yard rating). The return of Cashman will assist the D, however the Vikings defenders have to be tighter in protection on these screens and fast passes.
It was a shaky sport for all of the Vikings’ corners. Byron Murphy had a pleasant sideline choose of Stafford, however he and fellow CBs Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and the Vikings safeties had been crushed on too many performs and had a number of missed tackles.
The Vikings particularly want Gilmore to get again to his stellar play from the primary 5 video games in contrast to giving up too many receptions within the final two video games.
6. The cross rushers should get stress extra rapidly, with quarterbacks getting the ball out quick. Maybe the brief week with the Thursday evening sport after a bodily sport with the Lions took its toll on the workforce, particularly the cross rushers.
The excellent news is that the Vikings don’t face a passer over the following a number of weeks who’s of the caliber of Goff and Stafford, with the potential exception of the up-and-down Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville after the Colts sport. The protection’s disguises and the gang noise ought to have the opportunity to rattle second-year Indy QB Anthony Richardson if the Vikings can higher cowl the fast passing sport and management a superb again in Jonathan Taylor within the run sport.
7. When the Vikings face the Colts on Sunday evening, I count on to see Blake Brandel transfer from left guard to left sort out to substitute Darrisaw (who Brandel has stepped in for prior to now when Darrisaw has missed some video games). Then Dalton Risner can begin at left guard as he did final season (and performed moderately properly). I like that method higher than going with 34-year-old journeyman David Quessenberr, who gave up a number of pressures within the second half towards the Rams and has not been an everyday starter since 2021 with the Titans.
” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=666,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/USATSI_21827334-1.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/USATSI_21827334-1.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”The Dalton Risner” class=”wp-image-123396″ /> Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
I’ll be again on Friday to preview the Vikings-Colts matchup, which seems like a must-win bounce-back win for the Vikings to keep within the rugged NFC North race. They’re now behind Detroit (6-1) and Inexperienced Bay (6-2).
Across the NFL in Week 8 & a glance forward to Week 9:
1. Within the NFC North, the Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss in Washington on the final-play Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels to Noah Brown. The Bears had simply taken the lead with 19 seconds left earlier than CB Tyrique Stevenson blew the protection on the ultimate play and allowed Brown to stand alone ultimately zone, ready for the tipped ball.
The Lions crushed the Titans 52-14 in a sport Jared Goff solely had to throw for 85 yards (with three TDs) due to 4 Tennessee turnovers and a 90-yard punt return TD by Kalif Raymond. The Packers wanted a walk-off subject aim by Brandon McManus for the second straight week to win 30-27 in Jacksonville. Malik Willis relieved the injured Jordan Love (groin) and directed the profitable drive.
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2. In different video games, Kirk Cousins threw 4 TD passes as Atlanta gained at Tampa Bay 31-26 to full the season sweep and take management of the NFC South. The Eagles improved to 5-2 (a half-game behind the Commanders within the NFC East) with a convincing 37-17 victory in Cincinnati. Jameis Winston handed for 334 yards and three touchdowns, main the host Browns to a 29-24 upset of the Ravens, who had gained 5 straight video games.
This Sunday evening, the Vikings’ opponent, the Colts, misplaced a key divisional sport in Houston 23-20 to give the Texans a season sweep. Richardson accomplished solely 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards, one TD, one choose, and a misplaced fumble, and he was sacked 5 instances. The Colts’ D allowed Joe Mixon to rush for 102 yards and a TD, and Texans QB C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards. Indianapolis had 9 penalties for 57 yards.
The 49ers beat the struggling Cowboys 30-24, and the Chiefs remained unbeaten with a 27-20 win in Las Vegas.
3. Massive video games in Week 9 in addition to the Colts at Vikings embrace Detroit at Inexperienced Bay with first place within the NFC North on the road. The Packers want a wholesome Love on this sport towards the recent Lions, who’ve gained 5 straight. The 2 groups cut up their collection final 12 months, and each groups gained on the street. An apparent key might be if Love can play together with his groin harm, and the stress might be on the Packers’ protection to decelerate the league’s top-scoring offense (33.4 factors per sport).
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Jan 1, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus watches their sport towards the Detroit Lions from the sidelines within the third quarter at Ford Discipline. Obligatory Credit score: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports activities.
” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19710121.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19710121.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”Bears Choose Starting QB vs. Vikings” class=”wp-image-96004″/> Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports.
Chicago’s sport at Arizona might be difficult. They’re making an attempt to bounce again from their loss in Washington, and the Cardinals are coming off an exhilarating, last-second win in Miami.
An enormous sport within the NFC West has the Rams at Seattle, with L.A. coming off their win over the Vikings. The Seahawks had been whipped at house 31-10 by Buffalo, who has Josh Allen enjoying at an MVP degree. He’s been a lot better this season within the turnover space, with just one interception (and 14 TD passes regardless of breaking in new beginning extensive receivers after the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis).
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was chosen NFL Government of the 12 months after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA primarily based in Minneapolis and does different sports activities consulting and media work together with school/company talking. Comply with him and direct message him on Twitter– @jeffdiamondnfl