5 bold Minnesota Vikings predictions for Week 14 vs. the Las Vegas Raiders
By Chris Schad
Brian O’Neill will have a rebound game
Brian O’Neill is still a cornerstone of the Vikings' offensive line, but his performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 12 left some concern, allowing six total pressures and a pair of sacks going up against Montez Sweat.
The 28-year-old right tackle will draw a tougher task in Week 14 against the Raiders' Maxx Crosby, but there are reasons to expect a rebound game.
The first is O’Neill’s track record. According to PFF, Monday marked the first time that O’Neill had allowed six pressures in a game and just the second time he allowed five or more pressures dating back to his rookie season.
While the other performance came in the Week 9 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, O’Neill is still working his way back from his partially torn Achilles suffered late last season, which could be a reason for his performance.
The other reason is the health of Crosby. Crosby played in a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs despite an infection in his knee, and he did not participate in Wednesday’s practice despite having the bye to recover.
While Crosby’s track record suggests he’ll make an attempt to play on Sunday, he may not be 100 percent, giving Minnesota an easier matchup in the trenches.
This is great news for O’Neill, who is working his way through the ups and downs of the season. If he can keep Crosby away from Josh Dobbs, the Vikings offense should be able to function and maximize its potential against Las Vegas.