4 games Vikings fans should watch during the team’s bye week
By Chris Schad
Baltimore Ravens (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (6-4)
Time: 7:15 p.m. CT, Monday
Line: Ravens by 3 points
Playoff Seeding: Los Angeles 2nd, Baltimore 2nd (AFC)
If anything, you’re tuning in to this game to see Lamar Jackson run circles around another NFL defense. Otherwise, you’re seeing just how thin the margin of error will be for the Vikings when they return from their bye.
The Rams are currently 1 1/2 games back of the Vikings for the final Wild Card spot and they’re a team that looks vastly different from they did a year ago. Even after acquiring Jalen Ramsey, they’re still having issues on the offensive side of the ball which has been at the mercy of Todd Gurley‘s knees and Brandin Cooks‘ concussion issues. Mix in Robert Woods missing last week’s game with a family issue and Sean McVay has had to make a lot more adjustments to the Rams offense.
Even with everything in flux, the Rams remain in the thick of the playoff picture and should get Cooks and Woods back on Monday night. The question is if they can stop Jackson and the Ravens, who are currently riding a six-game winning streak that has catapulted the dynamic quarterback into the MVP conversation.
With the Ravens mired in the AFC (and the general public hoping they can make a mockery out of the New England Patriots twice), the Minnesota Vikings would love if Baltimore can get the job done on the west coast and give Minnesota a two-game lead on the six-seed with five games left to play.