Now that the Minnesota Vikings have clinched a playoff spot, their road to the Super Bowl gets even tougher. They finish the regular season against three playoff-worthy teams, two of which are road tilts. Also, two of their opponents down the stretch are division rivals, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
So, in the final stages of the NFL regular season, the Vikings have three goals.
- Improve their playoff position
- Stay healthy
- Ensure that their play has peaked as they start the playoffs
So, lets delve into four factors that will be crucial in the pursuit of their goals and, hopefully, a Super Bowl Championship.
Keep Sam Darnold Upright
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is having an outstanding season, and his loss would obviously be detrimental to the team’s playoff hopes. He has thrown for 29 touchdown passes and has been rock-steady in the pocket and in the locker room. His absence would significantly affect the production of his main receivers, Justin Jefferson, Jordain Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.
Unfortunately, the Vikings’ offensive line is an average pass-blocking unit, and Darnold has felt the brunt of some missed blocks. Minnesota has allowed 43 sacks this season, and their line’s interior is especially deficient. Blake Brandel is having a brutal year overall at left guard, and Garrett Bradbury is one of the worst pass-blocking centers in the league.
The Vikings are fortunate that tight end Josh Oliver and fullback C.J. Ham have covered up for some of the offensive line’s mistakes. They must improve in this area, or teams like the Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles will add a lot of discomfort to Darnold’s day.
Keep Aaron Jones Healthy
Much like Darnold, Jones is an integral part of this Minnesota offense. The Vikings’ ground game was almost nonexistent last year, with lead back Alexander Mattison ineffective and the line struggling to open up holes for the backs. Jones has over 1,300 yards in total offense and has scored seven touchdowns. And after some ball-handling issues several weeks back, he seems to have curbed most of his problems in that area.
You do not want to feed him the ball 20-25 times a game on a regular basis, but Cam Akers has played better lately, giving Jones time to rest and recuperate. And there is also the intangible factor of Jones being a leader in the locker room and an all-around positive presence. The Vikings players have spoken about his spirit, humor, and dedication to community service.
Maintain Pressure on Opposing Quarterbacks
The Vikings’ defense ranks second in the league in Quarterback pressures with 157. This stat encompasses hurries, knockdowns, and sacks of rival quarterbacks. Brian Flores’ crew, led by Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkle, and Patrick Jones II, continues to put relentless heat on opposing quarterbacks with devasting effects. Most noticeably, Minnesota leads the league in interceptions with 20.
They accomplished this despite losing their leading sack master from last season (Danielle Hunter) and fielding an aging secondary. Flores has employed far fewer blitzes this season due to the pressure provided by the front five. And inside linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. have contributed several sacks in crucial situations.
Get Ivan Pace Jr. Back for the Playoffs
Linebacker Pace Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears. He was placed on the injured reserve list and is scheduled to be activated in time for the Week 17 contest against the Packers. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had this to say about his injury. “He’s doing really well. “Probably ahead of the timeline we initially thought. He’ll be ready to roll when he’s available to come off, I believe.”
Not only is Pace a lethal pass rusher, but since his absence, the Vikings have allowed 156 rushing yards per game. And with the likes of Josh Jacobs and Jahmyr Gibbs on the horizon, the team can’t wait to get their second-year defender back into the game.
The Minnesota Vikings play the Seattle Seahawks today at 3:05 pm CST at Lumen Field in Seattle.
