Kevin Stefanski’s Grand Return to Minnesota
Nate Powalie
|
For Vikings fans, it’s Browns week. It’s also the grand return of Kevin Stefanski to face off against his former mates. US Bank Stadium will undoubtedly be abuzz this Sunday. Following a 30-17 win in their home opener against the Seahawks, the middle match of a three-game homestand pits the Gjallarhorn against the Dawg Pound.
For Cleveland, they are coming off a 26-6 healthy win against an NFC North foe in the Chicago Bears. Myles Garrett won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance (4.5 sacks, seven tackles, six quarterback hits, four tackles for loss), as the Browns all told got to rookie quarterback Justin Fields nine times last Sunday. Final statistics showed that Cleveland set a franchise record for the fewest yards allowed in a single game with 47, breaking the old record of 53 when they shut out the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1989 game 51-0.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is coming off one of the strongest performances as a Minnesota Vikings quarterback. He put together three touchdown passes in the first half, and he was able to make some Minnesota magic whenever he had to deal with a defender in his grill. Dalvin Cook might not be around due to a sprained ankle, so some carries may come Alex Mattison’s way this week against a stingy Browns’ run D unit. Mattison, the former Boise State Bronco, finished last week with 26 carries for 112 yards while also catching six balls on eight targets for 59 yards in the Vikings 30-17 winner against Seattle.
Overall, the Browns defense is one of the toughest in the NFL through three weeks of action, as they have allowed the third-fewest yards per game on average, at just under 250. The Vikes, on the other hand, are a high-powered offense, being third-best in the NFL at 425 yards per contest. This should be an exciting match-up, and only time will tell whether Stefanski will be victorious or if the Vikings will spoil his homecoming. The current betting line has the Browns listed as about a two-and-a-half-point favorite with the over/under final total being set at 51.5 points, while ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Vikings about a 52% chance of winning at home.
For the Vikings, the key to success on the defensive side of the ball will be how to figure out stopping the two-headed monster in the backfield that is Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Hunt was the primary back last week, scoring a touchdown on the ground and being active in the air. On offense, keeping Kirk Cousins hot is the big topic.
For Cleveland, offensively, keeping the whole unit together and involved will be an essential factor. On defense, the goal is to shut down Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and the high-flying Vikes pass attack. This should be a memorable game for fans of both teams.