Get in shape (aka get healthy) for the playoffs
As the calendar turns to 2020, there’s a lot of us who want to get in shape. Sadly, the chances of suddenly looking like The Rock are pretty slim. But for the Vikings, getting into shape simply means being healthy going into the Superdome on Sunday.
One of the silver linings from Minnesota’s loss to the Packers in Week 16 is that it essentially gave them a bye in Week 17. This allowed the Vikings to rest all of their players with as much as a hangnail and prepare for who they would face as the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs.
With Minnesota drawing the Saints in the Superdome, it’s a tough task, but it’s also one that they should be prepared for.
Dalvin Cook has had three weeks to rest his ailing shoulder and Adam Thielen should be ready to go as he’s worked his way back from a hamstring injury. With Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks also expected to return from their injuries, this should be as full strength as Minnesota has been since the opening weeks of the season.
Remember, this is a Vikings team that responded from the Week 4 disaster in Chicago and put up an average of 36 points per game from Week 5 to Week 7. While the defensive combination of the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions isn’t exactly Murderers’ Row for an offense, it still showed what the Vikings can do when they’re running on all cylinders.
If Minnesota is ready to go, the Saints defense, which allowed 48 points at home against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14 and 31 to the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 at home, will have a big challenge on their hands.