The Vikings Offense Gave Themselves Something To Build On
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings’ offensive performance wasn’t perfect on Sunday, but, given their recent struggles, it was a definite sign of hope.
Despite Tennessee’s poor record of 2-8, its defense has been one of the best in the league. The Titans, coming into Sunday, had allowed just 273 yards per game, which was second-best in the NFL. They had given up a mere 156 passing yards on average, the least of any of the 32 teams. Minnesota beat those numbers with relative ease. Though the 318 total yards weren’t mind-boggling like what the Lions did to the Jaguars, it’s the type of game Minnesota can try to replicate the rest of the way.
Quarterback Sam Darnold finished with 246 passing yards and a rushing score. As opposed to the previous weeks, the quarterback didn’t find himself holding the ball and forcing it down the field on long developing concepts. He took what was there. When there was nothing to be had he checked down, threw it away, or took a sack.
“How he played in those moments was a huge indicator of a guy that had put the work in and was confident and just going out there and do his job … and then also overcome some things around him to make some plays, which was critical for us,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell told the Associated Press of Darnold.
But the team didn’t need him to do too much. That’s the point. That’s what’s promising. It seemed like the Vikings sort of just played their system and simply executed well. They weren’t trying to out-think themselves either. Just a week ago they seemed lost in the red zone. Sunday the touchdown on a play-action pass to Cam Akers was about as easy and well-executed of a red-zone score as the Vikings have gotten in a while.
Despite the run game faltering it just felt like a more balanced approach that didn’t need its star receiver to come save the game. They didn’t force feed Justin Jefferson the ball in every crucial moment. Jordan Addison played a big role, Josh Oliver continued his ascension, and Jalen Nailor, had he caught an easy ball, could’ve made this one look like a blow out.
Think about that. The social media narrative is that the team snuck by again, but the reality is if Nailor catches a ball that hits him in the numbers it’s a 30-13 blowout. One play and we might be talking about this as the turning point away from their recent offensive struggles.
There have been times this year when the running game couldn’t get going where the Vikings couldn’t hold off blitzes or keep passing well enough. Last week, with Darnold’s three interceptions, was probably the worst example. This time, the pass protection was solid and Darnold had time to go through his reads. Five sacks aren’t ideal, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the game or make the Vikings skittish.
If Darnold can keep up this sort of effort, and the team can figure out the run game they could start peaking at just the right time. This is a championship-level defense that can be the best unit on a team with a long postseason run. If the offense can take what they did against the Titans and build on it something might be cooking in Minneapolis.
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