How Vikings Can Maintain Postseason Position

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Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Minnesota Vikings have battled to get back to an even record. Now, they control their own destiny and are currently in position to make the playoffs. So what does the team have to do to continue the hot streak and invade the postseason?

Much of the success the team has had as of late comes from the offense. Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and Adam Thielen are offensive weapons at the top of their class. And quarterback Kirk Cousins has looked more than comfortable distributing the ball to these playmakers.

The key for the offense from here on out will be balance. Even when one of the studs is on a roll, it’s important that the Vikings offense diversifies rather than becoming reliant on one player to carry the load. This keeps opposing defenses guessing and the players fresh.

On the other side of the ball, Minnesota must continue to call smart plays on defense. Zimmer and the defensive coordinators have generally been doing a good job… they put their players in position for sacks, picks, and big plays all around. However, there have also been moments and even entire quarters of questionable decisions. 

Last week against Carolina, there were long stretches of the game where the coaches inexplicably refused to send the blitz. They also put the team in precarious position by switching to the “prevent” defense too early. It nearly allowed Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers to charge back and win on a last second field goal. More experienced quarterbacks will make the Vikings pay if they pull that kind of playcalling again.

Finally, we come to special teams… by far the sloppiest Vikings unit this season. Errors must be eliminated. The focus is no longer on making saucy plays like blocking punts and pulling off fakes. Instead, coordinator Marwan Maalouf has to go back to basics, clean up sloppy plays, and find some consistency. 

From kicker to long snapper to punt gunner, everyone in the special teams room is clearly shaken. This late in the season, the solution is unclear. Maalouf may experiment with different personnel packages, but that carries its own risk by putting players in new positions. Whatever the case, further errors in this phase could bump the Vikings out of the playoff spot they currently hold. This is the unit I’m most concerned about, so it’s time for special teams to sharpen up.

This scrappy team actually has a realistic chance to make a run to the playoffs. So long as the Vikings can play to their strengths and cut down the miscues, I believe they have the swagger to take down any team in the league.

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