The Minnesota Vikings take on the San Francisco 49ers to put the finishing touches on week 7 of the NFL today at 7:15 p.m. CST on ESPN.
To say that the Vikings are underdogs going into this game is an understatement. Fanbases across the NFL are already staking claims to players on the Minnesota roster as they have been deemed sellers at the trade deadline.
Before the front office decides on whether or not to fold the season, they have what could be considered the biggest test of the 2023 season.
The 49ers are the odds-on favorite not only to make the Super Bowl this season but win it. There’s no better litmus test than the potential number-one team in the league.
One of the primary reasons is the 49ers suffocating defense that ranks first in points allowed and third in yards allowed. To combat this dominant unit, it will take a near-perfect game from the offense.
In this exercise, we list four foundational aspects of the offense to get them started on the right track.
Who steps up in the passing game?
The first game post-Justin Jefferson was…not ideal.
On the surface, it looks like the plan worked:
The top pass-catcher was T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison found a way into the end zone and K.J. Osborn caught over 75% of his targets.
However, Hockenson only gained 50 yards, the passing offense had four maddening drops and there wasn’t much of a vertical threat due to Chicago being unphased by the receiver options at Minnesota’s disposal.
Someone has to step up and garner some attention to spread these defenses out more. Right now, there is nobody to key in on. With a team as talented from front to back as San Francisco, either Hockenson or Addison will have to step up and force the defense to respect this passing game.
Cousins and his pocket navigation
Kirk Cousins is what evaluators would call a pocket passer. He will not beat you with his legs, at least not down the field.
Cousins has been navigating the pocket in the past few weeks very well. He has been extending plays just a tick past the top of his drop. That makes defensive backs cover receivers for an extra half a second to a second to get and, more importantly, it gives receivers a chance to get open in space that may not have been there on the initial design.
The Vikings have one of the best pass-protecting lines in the NFL. They will have their hands full with the talented front seven of the 49ers.
It will be up to Cousins and company to keep plays alive, even with guys like Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Javon Kinlaw, Randy Gregory, Arik Armstead, I can keep going.
It will be a tough task but this Minnesota line has the potential to be up to the task.
Take what the defense gives you
One of the biggest cliches in football: Gake what the defense gives you.
Everyone that has watched or played the game knows this, why include it? Because this defense doesn’t give much.
Between the teachings of now-Texans-head-coach Demeco Ryans and current defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, this San Francisco defense is a very disciplined unit.
They don’t get out of position often and make you earn every yard.
Any mistakes are magnified when playing a defense like this, so take what you can get. The Vikings have a negative seven turnover differential and 13 total giveaways through six games, so they know how impactful they can be. Don’t force the issue, and good things will come.
Hang. On. To. The. Football
This will be a key until this team can prove that they can do this at a consistent level. Secure. The. Football.
Vikings fans are still waiting on the first game where they don’t have to groan at a Minnesota turnover.
Their 13 turnovers on the year still lead the league and can’t happen against a defense this talented.
There will be enough of a challenge to move the football without your top pass-catcher and a running game that’s still trying to find itself. The last thing they need is to be shooting themselves in the foot as well.
