4 Key Factors That Will Define Vikings vs. Texans
The Minnesota Vikings’ start of the season has turned out masterfully, chipping off the New York Giants by 22 points on the road and the San Francisco 49ers by six at home.
4 Key Factors That Will Define Vikings vs. Texans
Kevin O’Connell’s squad is expected to lose by two points this weekend, however, vs. the Houston Texans.
Along the way, these are the four storylines to watch from a Vikings perspective, ranked in ascending order of importance (No. 1 = most important).
4. “Revenge Game” Angle
Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, Cam Akers, and Kris Boyd played for the Vikings in the past, and Sunday will be a “revenge” game as they are attached to the Texans’ roster.
It’s unlikely that all four players will stand off the page, but players like Diggs and Hunter could especially torment Minnesota. Minnesota must keep them at bay.
3. Vikings’ Ground Game Efficiency
Minnesota’s rushing offense ranks sixth in DVOA at the moment — up over 20 spots from 2022 and 2023, when the club finished six-worst in back-to-back seasons. It turns out — through two games — that Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler are the special sauce for repair.
The Vikings’ offensive line is also responsible for some of the glory, ranking second leaguewide per run blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Texans’ defense, on the other hand, is no joke, a group that tackles extremely well and stops the run. Minnesota must continue its multidimensional offense and not get tempted to throw the ball 70% of the time. It won’t work.
2. The Turnover Differential Battle
The weekly stat update:
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Breaking Even or Winning Turnover Battle:
19-0
Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Losing Turnover Battle:
3-14
Vikings’ football is just a turnover referendum under Kevin O’Connell. Plain and simple.
1. Sam Darnold’s Sustainability
Close your eyes: Darnold is probably due for a stinker game. Consistency is the next step to watch amid his reclamation evolution. He’s played gloriously in Weeks 1 and 2, feeding the rock to his playmakers and bouncing back from mistakes.
However, just like last week’s test against San Francisco, the Vikings need a clean and efficient game from Darnold to topple one of the NFL’s best teams, the Texans.
His first major regression will probably result in Minnesota’s first loss.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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