Will the special teams build off last week?
If there is one thing that needs to carry over from Week 1 to Week 2, it’s the play of the Vikings’ special teams. Thanks to a blocked punt by Eric Wilson and terrific kickoff coverage, Minnesota was able to put on Atlanta on a long field early, which helped set up the Vikings for success once their defense forced a turnover.
In addition, Dan Bailey went four-for-four on extra point attempts and while that wasn’t a 50-plus-yard field goal to inspire confidence in the fan base, it at least is something the Vikings can point to and claim that it’s working.
In last year’s meeting, the Vikings’ special teams played a big role in not getting a victory at Lambeau Field after allowing a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter and the three misses by Daniel Carlson later in the game. A lot has changed for the Vikings since they had the first of their many special teams meltdowns, but if they can keep their strong play going, it should go a long way in picking up a big NFC North victory.