5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Week 14
By Chris Schad
Thielen and Jefferson will be Minnesota’s best chance to win
The Vikings have seemed to find a winning formula over the past month and a half, but there eventually becomes a need to adapt. Minnesota’s defense is banged up and with a slew of injuries at the tight end position, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will need to have some players to step up in order for the team to come away with a win.
The best option the Vikings have is to utilize wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen as much as possible. This should be a case of “Coaching for Dummies,” but it’s not a given considering Minnesota’s makeup.
In the past two weeks, the Vikings have used an approach similar to what the Seattle Seahawks have done with Russell Wilson. By choosing to overuse the running game, the Seahawks mothballed their talented duo of receivers in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett until it was too late, giving up a couple of wins in the process.
On Sunday, it would be wise to let Kirk Cousins try to get the ball to his playmakers and hope they can keep the momentum on Minnesota’s side.
With Thielen leading the Vikings with 12 receiving touchdowns and Jefferson becoming one of five rookies to post 1,000 yards in his first 12 games last week, getting them the ball is a good place to start.