5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills – Week 10
By Chris Schad
Dalvin Cook will have a season-high in rushing yards
When the Vikings turn on the tape, they’ll see a few weaknesses in the Buffalo defense. Von Miller and Gregory Rousseau are big concerns in pass protection and A.J. Epenesa and Ed Oliver bring a different challenge to an interior offensive line that allowed 13 pressures against the Commanders last week.
The best way to neutralize Buffalo’s defense is by running the ball, which is something that should play into the hands of the Vikings.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Vikings rank fourth in run-blocking grade and no starter along the offensive line has a run-blocking grade lower than 70. By comparison, the Vikings rank 24th in pass-blocking grade and have allowed Kirk Cousins to be pressured on 35.3 percent of his dropbacks (13th among qualifying quarterbacks).
This should play into the Vikings that is facing a Buffalo defense that held five of its first six opponents under 100 yards rushing but allowed 208 rushing yards to the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 and 174 yards on the ground against the Jets last week.
The weather forecast also calls for a chance of snow on Sunday, which could mean that Dalvin Cook and the rest of the Vikings backfield could be featured prominently against the Bills.