What Did the Vikings Learn against the Rams?
With their season on the line, the Minnesota Vikings will head to Los Angeles and square off against the Rams for the second time this season. The first iteration of this contest didn’t go well. Coincidentally, it also came after a loss to the Detroit Lions. This isn’t a short week, though, and Kevin O’Connell must prove capable of making adjustments.
What Did the Vikings Learn against the Rams?
Last time out, the Vikings got embarrassed. Sam Darnold looked bad. Kevin O’Connell got outcoached. Minnesota failed to show up in the biggest game of NFL regular season history. That is in the rearview mirror at this point, and it’s been time to turn the page.
Minnesota has lost just three games this season. All of them have come against the same two teams, and they’ll look to avoid a second at the hands of Los Angeles. In their first matchup, the Vikings dropped the contest by ten points. They can’t afford a one-point deficit with the season on the line, and there are things to fix this time around.
First and foremost, the Vikings can’t and won’t be taken off guard. Puka Nacua returning to the lineup had them surprised. He’s locked and loaded this time around. Los Angeles is going to have both of their talented wide receivers. It’s on Brian Flores to be prepared for them.
Secondly, Kyren Williams must be contained. There is no real change of pace back, with rookie Blake Corum suffering a broken forearm and being done for the year. Minnesota allowed Williams to rush for 97 yards on 23 carries in their first matchup. He also caught five passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
Considering how strong the Vikings have been against the run all season, they’ll need to find that level of strength once again. The Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs gashed them last weekend, and it can’t be a repeat of either of those outcomes.
Both Nacua and Cooper Kupp are yardage monsters. Matthew Stafford doesn’t have to do much to connect with either of them. Nacua turned seven receptions into 106 yards. Cupp grabbed five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. They are target monsters that can rack up substantial yards after each catch. The cornerbacks must be dialed in, but they’ll also need help from the safeties and linebackers.
Maybe most importantly, the Vikings need to create pressure on Stafford. The Rams quarterback never took a sack in their first meeting, and while he threw an interception, he was entirely too comfortable. Flores can’t let that happen again.
The Vikings dropped a second game against the Lions last weekend. Beating a team twice in the same season is tough. Minnesota can’t allow it to happen in consecutive weeks again.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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