Key to Week 9 Win May Be the Vikings Backfield
The Minnesota Vikings are returning to the field for Week 9 in a matchup against the Detroit Lions. They needed a big win on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, and now they have put themselves in a tough spot, needing to avoid another loss or be staring at a 3-5 record.
The Minnesota Vikings’ backfield went largely unused against the Los Angeles Chargers, but that tandem could be the key against Detroit.
J.J. McCarthy will be back under center for Kevin O’Connell on Sunday. Carson Wentz’s season is over, and veteran backup John Wolford has been signed to act as the third quarterback on the roster. Plenty of uncertainty surrounds McCarthy, and we really have only seen him healthy for 1.5 games thus far in his career.
The Vikings Must Run the Rock
Plenty was made of McCarthy being a byproduct of his college environment. The Michigan Wolverines had a talented running game. He could lean on that as a quarterback and also saw a greater spread of the field in the passing game because of it. The Vikings have plenty of talent to surround McCarthy with, and that should also take into consideration the running game.
Last week, Kevin O’Connell completely abandoned the run. After the Chargers got up by enough, the game script dictated that he do so. Before that, though, neither Aaron Jones nor Jordan Mason could get anything going. The former returned from injured reserve, and despite being healthy, looked incapable of making an impact. The Vikings need to change that this weekend.
The tandem of Jones and Mason represents two distinctly different styles. O’Connell can deploy them in different situations and with different intentions. The more that the running game can open things up for the passing game, the better off McCarthy will be.
Beyond just keeping the defense on their toes, O’Connell should not want his young quarterback to need to beat the Lions in a shootout. Dan Campbell’s team can light up a scoreboard, and the Vikings’ defense needs no part of being on the field trying to win a track meet.
If the Vikings can establish the run and then lean into it, the offense and specifically McCarthy will benefit. The trickle-down effect will spill over to the defense, and Minnesota could pull off an upset despite being nearly double-digit underdogs.
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