Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Bounces Back Against Falcons
By Adam Carlson
Coming into this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, one of the biggest concerns for the Minnesota Vikings had to be the offensive line. With left tackle Matt Kalil struggling and right guard Brandon Fusco being lost for the season with injury, the team had to find a way to keep their quarterback upright and get their run game on track.
The Vikings accomplished both those things on Sunday. Most notably, Minnesota excelled in the run game against a struggling Atlanta defense. The team accumulated 241 yards and got into the end zone 4 times on the ground. Here were the major performers from the game:
Sep 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon (31) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jerick McKinnon: 18 carries for 135 yards
But it wasn’t only the running game that was impressive, it was how the offense picked up the pressure from the Falcons on pass plays and allowed the team to move the ball down the field with relative ease. The Minnesota Vikings were able to move the ball down the field with relative ease during the game, something that definitely didn’t happen in the team’s previous efforts.
Brian Murphy at the Pioneer Press took to twitter after speaking with Minnesota Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil after the game:
#vikings LT Matt Kalil: "That’s the game we’ve been waiting to have. We’re big. We’re powerful. We’re fast. It didn’t surprise me at all."
— Brian Murphy (@murphmedia_) September 29, 2014
Although quarterback Teddy Bridgewater left the game with a sprained ankle and did not return, it is hopeful that he’ll be available to play on Thursday, when the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to take on the Green Bay Packers in their first head-to-head matchup of the season and the only prime time game for the boys in purple.