How the Minnesota Vikings can beat the Eagles in Philly in Week 5
Don’t try to solve the running game woes this week (especially up the middle)
The Vikings certainly have been a mess in the ground game. But let’s worry about that after this one. The Eagles–like last year when they lead the league in rushing defense–are allowing a ridiculous 63.8 yards a game on the ground.
We’re not going to “bust out” the Vikings missing running game in Philly on Sunday. Let’s hope for a play or two from tailbacks Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray. That would be nice.
Both the Colts and Titans ran outside with plenty of misdirection on the speedy Eagle defensive line and used “quick-hit” pass plays just past the line of scrimmage with success. This opened up their play-action game and moved them down the field against the Philly D.
This is going to be a chess match that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins needs to oversee. If the Vikings return to the inside run again and again after it fails (something we’ve seen them do before), they will find themselves in several third-and-long situations and different Eagle blitz packages. Not exactly what our struggling offensive line wants to see all game long.
“Close” on Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz and the Eagles showed the NFL numerous times last year that a play is not over until it is over. The 6-foot-5 QB made a ton of hay out of a pocket scrum that seemed hopeless. Philly’s third-year leader is big, smart, and most likely growing a little stronger each week beyond his injury.
The guy’s pretty impossible to contain. Wentz is a great football player that every team would love to have. Giving him a chance to make rare plays downfield will be a huge mistake on Sunday. If any Viking gets a piece of him, they need to make sure he is buried.
Watching him in Week 3 and 4 shows a guy who can’t run like last year, but can certainly dip, dodge, and move out of what looks like dead drops by opposing defenders. A headstrong commitment on pursuit, rather than a sure wrap and contain, will leave guys chasing him. Not good.