5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons – Week 6
By Chris Schad
Minnesota will need Cousins to win this game
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but this should be a game where Kirk Cousins leads the Vikings to victory.
Atlanta has been terrible against the pass this season, allowing 335.8 passing yards per game and ranking 30th in passing DVOA. In addition, the Falcons secondary is extremely banged up with starting safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal listed on Thursday’s injury report.
With Atlanta being better at stopping the run than the pass, it might be wise to finally put the game in Cousins’ hands. While there may not be a level in confidence, the Vikings have two of the top-five graded receivers by PFF this season in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson along with several other explosive weapons that haven’t even been used yet (think Irv Smith).
Minnesota’s coaching staff isn’t fond of passing to get ahead in a game, but this should be a game where they change their strategy. If they can get Thielen and Jefferson established early, this matchup could be over by halftime.