This Is How The Minnesota Vikings Will Win In Green Bay
For the first time in the post-Aaron Rodgers era the Minnesota Vikings are heading to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers.
Minnesota is coming off a 22-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, the Packers have lost their previous three outings, with the most recent defeat coming at the hands of the Denver Broncos.
So what needs to go right for the Vikings to secure a win on Sunday? Here are three keys that will help Minnesota get to .500 on the season.
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Get The Vikings Running Game Going
The struggle to get any rushing attack going has ailed the Vikings through their first seven games. When the club moved on from four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook last offseason, all the attention turned to Alexander Mattison.
Mattison just hasn't been able to produce as much as many Vikings fans would like. While his four rushing yards per attempt are the third-best of his career, there is plenty of room for improvement. The 25-year-old has yet to score a rushing touchdown (in fact, Minnesota is the only team in the NFL without a rushing score), and his five dropped passes are the most on the team, per Pro Football Reference.
The Vikings addressed the issue by trading for four-year NFL veteran Cam Akers last month. Since he arrived in Minnesota, Akers has recorded 94 yards on 21 carries. I'd like to see him start to get more carries going forward.
Another player with some potential in the running back room is Ty Chandler. Vikings fans have seen positives from the former Tar Heel. Why not give him a few more touches in regular-season action?
A successful run game leads to a successful play-action game, which benefits quarterback Kirk Cousins. Green Bay allows the third-most rushing yards per game, so this could be a breakout game for Minnesota's backs.
Get Pressure On Jordan Love
Opposing defenses have only sacked Jordan Love ten times this season. If Minnesota can find a way to get pressure on him, it will lead to mistakes and turnovers.
The Brian Flores-led unit brings the blitz on 56.4% of drop backs, by far the most in the NFL. They're also sixth in the league in QB hurries and have tallied 19 sacks.
The defense played a great game against the 49ers on Monday night, now we get to see if they're able to put together two good performances in a row, this time on the road against a divisional opponent.
Another Stellar Kirk Cousins Performance
Kirk Cousins played a fantastic game in Week Seven, completing 35 of his 45 passes for 378 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He was also not sacked thanks to the offensive line playing their best game of the year.
Cousins connected with nine different receivers in the absence of Justin Jefferson. Ten of his 45 throws went towards Jordan Addison who finished with seven catches, 123 yards and two scores.
If Cousins can spread the ball out as he did last week, the Vikings will be in a position to win at the end of this game.
Final Thoughts
Despite the 1-4 start, the Vikings are right back in the mix. With five divisional contests remaining on the schedule, including two against the Detroit Lions, this team has a serious shot at not only making the playoffs but possibly winning the NFC North.
However, it's important to not look too far ahead. This team was 1-4 for a reason. The road to redeeming this season starts this weekend in Green Bay, if they can find a way to win, who knows what the rest of the season may bring.
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