Oct 10, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (25) celebrates during the second half against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports.
It’s time for this week’s Vikings players to watch as the Minnesota Vikings host the Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime on Thursday Night Football, involving two storied franchises that are not having the seasons they would have wanted.
Both are technically still in the playoff hunt, though neither are looking like genuine playoff contenders. The Steelers record of 6-5-1 looks marginally better than the Vikings 5-7, though in the much tougher AFC conference and tough AFC North division. I would say the Steelers are less likely to make the playoffs than the Vikings, in my opinion.
Defeat on Thursday night would be the final nail in the coffin for Mike Zimmer’s Vikings. If the Vikings are to win and keep the season alive a bit longer, here are some Vikings players to watch that I’ve picked out — players I think will need a big game for the Vikings to win this game.
When it comes to run defense, it doesn’t get much worse than the Vikings at the moment. They’re giving up an average of 131.5 yards a game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t far behind, though, surrendering an average of 130.9 yards a game, the fifth-most in the NFL. Those are embarrassing stats for two franchises that pride themselves on tough football and historically great defenses. These current incarnations are no Purple People Eaters or Steel Curtain.
The stats get worse for the Steelers on the road, where they give up an average of a whopping 140.2 yards a game. In their last three games, they have given up an average of 154.7 yards on the ground. If there is a time when Mike Zimmer is validated in wanting to run, run, and then run the ball some more — it could be this week.
Though Dalvin Cook has managed “light practice” this week, I don’t envision him ready to play on Thursday. The heavy workload will be on Alexander Mattison, with relief from Kene Nwangwu.
Mattison will never be Dalvin Cook, but he has proved more than capable on several occasions. He should be in line for another 100+ yards from scrimmage game.
Speaking of the Vikings run defense problems, let’s move on to one of my favorite Vikings players to watch.
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Last week’s return of mammoth nose tackle Michael Pierce was a welcome boost. Pierce started the season well for a guy who had missed a year of football. Unfortunately, injury hit again after just four games. If all goes well, Thursday night will be an event with Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendricks on the field together for the first time as Vikings.
It’s just a shame Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen aren’t there too.
The Vikings defense would certainly have a different outlook with all six on the field.
The Steelers run game might not be as dominant as previous years, but Najee Harris is a talent who is capable of going off big time — if the Vikings defense is as lackadaisical as it has often been this season.
It starts up front with Pierce and Tomlinson, but two guys can’t cover the entire width of the field. They need better support from others than has been evidenced this season.
The last of my Vikings players to watch is Cameron Dantzler, who had a decent performance against Detroit, which has been somewhat unfairly overshadowed by the last play of the game. He shouldn’t have been so deep, but all the defensive backs were, so it was clearly by design.
The Vikings secondary will be boosted by the return of Patrick Peterson. It should be Bashaud Breeland that makes way as starter, leaving Peterson and Dantzler to match up against Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.
The Vikings are in desperate need of a good defensive performance the last four quarters. The returning starters and Dantzler keeping the starting spot are the best chance of that happening.
Much like the Lions, the Steelers haven’t been piling many points on the board this season., scoring 20 points or less in seven of their games so far. Dantzler, like most of the Vikings defense, is better when he is aggressive and up in the opposition’s face.
Let’s hope that he and his teammates are set up to play this week.
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