The Viking Age
FanSided

6 spooky similarities between the Vikings and Titans

By Dustin Baker

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings has a pass knocked away by Sean Spence #55 of the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Vikings defeated the Titans 25-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings has a pass knocked away by Sean Spence #55 of the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Vikings defeated the Titans 25-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings /

Emphasis on running the football

The primary reason that the Vikings and Titans elect to skimp at the wide receiver position is that both Zimmer and Vrabel adore running the football. And, they have the workhorses to do it.

Derrick Henry won a rushing title in 2019 edging Dallas Cowboys tailback Ezekiel Elliot by about 200 yards. He’s a similarily-styled runner to ex-Vikings halfback Adrian Peterson. Henry is a downhill-running battering ram that can turn on the jets out in the open field. He isn’t as fast as Peterson was in his prime, but his overall talent is not too far behind.

Minnesota just handed running back Dalvin Cook a truckload of cash, and he, too, is usually involved in the team’s offense heavily. It has happened much in 2020, and that’s why the team is winless.

On the whole, the Vikings and Titans weaponize the run, and they do so decisively. During the 2019 season, the Titans ran the football 48.8 percent of the time or the third-most in the NFL. The Vikings rushed on 48.3 percent of all offensive plays. This was the fourth-most in the league.

If both Zimmer and Vrabel coach according to their reputation, we will see oodles of rushing yards this weekend.

Home/Minnesota Vikings News