The Minnesota Vikings host the Los Angeles Chargers in what feels like a must-win game this Sunday at 12 pm Central.
Minnesota’s offense has moved the ball at a solid pace this season. Minnesota ranks eighth in total yards and second in the league in passing yards. There have been drives where this offense has looked like the top-ten offense expected from a play-caller like Kevin O’Connell. However, the points don’t match the production.
Buy Vikings TicketsTheir 45 points in the first two games is the 18th-best in the NFL, an unacceptable number for a team with this sort of offensive firepower, specifically in the passing game.
What will it take for the Vikings to pull off a win on Sunday? They will have to outgun an offense that has put up almost 30 points a game through the first two games.
How can they do that? We discuss that in this week’s offensive keys.
1. Get Jefferson the ball early and often
The Chargers allowed 215 yards to Tyreek Hill via 11 receptions on 15 targets.
Miami used a lot of motion and other creative ways to scheme Hill open and allowed Hill to do the rest. Hill’s dominance allowed for the rest of the offense to get going. Waddle found space underneath the defense to gain yards after the catch. Four other receivers were able to gain 30+ yards.
Everyone in this offense was a threat, and it started with getting the ball to Hill early and often.
If Minnesota wants to have similar success, they will have to do the same with Justin Jefferson. Once Jefferson gets going, the rest of the passing offense will follow.
The Chargers have given up the most passing yards and net passing yards per attempt this season, a perfect opportunity to get this passing offense into a rhythm.
Jefferson is also in prime position to make some history. If he is able to notch another 100-yard game, it will be the first time since 2020 that a receiver started the first three weeks of the season with three-straight 100-yard games.
If he can hit 150 yards, he will be the first receiver in the history of the NFL to start a season with three-straight 150 yard games.
2. Keep Kirk upright
While Minnesota’s 23 pressures allowed still ranks in the top ten in overall pressures this season, this unit does look improved from last season.
They’ve only allowed four sacks, and their 23.4% pressure rate ties for 20th in the league. Not great, but it is progress.
They have a chance to boost those numbers this week, as the Chargers have not been able to get much pressure on the quarterback. Los Angeles’ 10 pressures and 13.5% pressure per dropback rate ties them for fourth-worst in the league through two weeks.
The line is a bit of a question as Christian Darrisaw was limited in practice today. If the line can keep Kirk upright and available to throw the football out of a clean pocket, Los Angeles may be in for a long day.
3. Work the ball vertically
Through two weeks, the second-most explosive pass plays (20+ yards) and the most explosive plays (15+ yards) in the league.
In a defense built to take away what your offense does best, the Dolphins made explosive plays almost at will, while Tennessee got their run game going almost effortlessly.
Kevin O’Connell’s offense is at its most dangerous when they are able to work the intermediate then take their shots down field.
Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn are two players who will need to step up and take advantage of opportunities down the field.
That Osborn interception to end the half against Tampa Bay was a game-changing play that ruined clear momentum for the offense. These down-field opportunities will be available, and they need to capitalize.
4. Hold on to the football
The Vikings have had 22 drives on offense. Six of them have ended in a turnover. That 27.3% turnover percentage is the most in the league.
Five of those turnovers were fumbles. That makes for 22.7% of Minnesota’s offensive drives ending with fumbles. Again, the most in the league. The next-worst percentage point is Cleveland, with 13.9%.
The Vikings had three drives of 60+ yards that was halted by a turnover. The touchback from Justin Jefferson embodies the struggle that this offense has had with turnovers these first two weeks.
The drives are executed well, O’Connell is calling the right plays at the right time, giving defenses headaches as to how they stop this attack.
Then, in a matter of moments, they don’t need to. The Vikings stop themselves. They hand the ball over to the opponent and crush any momentum their offense seemed to muster. It’s frustrating to watch.
If the Vikings hang on to the football, there is no doubt they will be able to keep up with this Los Angeles Chargers attack.
