The undefeated Minnesota Vikings (4-0) take on the Houston Texans (3-1) at US Bank Stadium this Sunday. This game marks the third time this season the Vikings face a 2015-2016 playoff team. For the second consecutive week, the “Norsemen” face a team coming off their only loss. The Texans seek to avenge a stinging and embarrassing primetime shutout at the hands of the New England Patriots.
One can argue that the Texans are the Vikings of the AFC. They bring a stout defense, take care of the football, and have overcome despite offenses that rank among the worst in the NFL. However, the significant differences between these two teams will likely ensure that Minnesota remains unbeaten in Week Five.
Minnesota Vikings Week Five Keys to Victory
Slingin’ Sam
The most significant difference between these two teams is quarterback play. While both teams’ offenses have struggled, Sam Bradford hasn’t. Bradford ranks 3rd in Quarterback Rating (QBR) at 105.5, while Brock Osweiler’s 74.8 rating ranks among the five worst quarterbacks in the league. If Bradford continues the trend and outplays Oswieler, Houston most likely leaves Minneapolis with their second loss.
Bradford playing well is not a certainty. He will face the #1 ranked passing defense in the NFL. Houston gives up only 163 passing yards per game. The Texans’ #1 ranking is a bit deceiving given the caliber of their pervious four opposing quarterback. Alex Smith, ranked 19th in QBR, is the highest rated passer of the bunch. Bradford should and must prove to be a much tougher test.
Win the Turnover Battle
When the Minnesota Vikings win the turnover battle, they win the game. The “Purple Reign” defense leads the league in takeaways with 11 and a give/take ratio at +10. This does not bode well for Ostweiller who comes into the game ranked 3rd in interceptions with six. The Vikings also have not coughed the ball up on offense this season. Houston ranks among the league’s worst teams in creating turnovers so Vikings fans should expect business as usual with Minnesota improving on its already gaudy give/take margin.
Stop the Texans’ Ground and Pound Offense
This game features a strength on strength matchup between Houston’s top-ten rushing offense versus Minnesota’s top-ten rushing defense. The Houston Texans game plan in 2016 is largely running the ball down their opponent’s throat, and keeping the opposing offense off the field. They rank 4th in rushing attempts but only 20th in yards per carry averaging 3.8 yards per attempt. Lamar Miller is a top rusher but ranks 25th in yards per carry with a season-long run of 11 yards. The Vikings will stack the box to stop Houston’s “three yards and a cloud of dust” offense and challenge Osweiler to beat them.
Houston Receivers, Meet the “Zim Reapers”
No other unit kills wide receiver production like the Minnesota Vikings defense. The Vikings face another tandem of very talented wide-outs this week. Rookie Will Fuller V is the 12th ranked pass catcher in total yards and the 9th best wide receiver in yards per catch after the first four weeks of the season. Statistically, Fuller represents the best wide receiver the Vikings defense has faced in 2016. 2015 Pro-Bowler DeAndre Hopkins is a big play receiver that put up 1521 receiving yards last season. He finished a distant third in receiving yards behind Julio Jones (1871) and Antonio Brown (1834) in 2015. Hopkins is struggling early this season, barely breaking 50 yards in two games, and only catching one pass for four yards in his last.
Look for Osweiler to air it out in an effort to stretch the Minnesota defense, and keep them from stacking the box. Xavier Rhodes and Company must frustrate the Houston wide outs in the same manner they did Odell Beckham Jr. and the rest of the vaunted Giants receiving corps. Minnesota cornerbacks must win the tight man-to-man coverage battles without much safety help as Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer will likely utilize more eight-man fronts to bottle up the Houston ground attack.
Return of the Purple People Eaters
After recording zero sacks against the Giants, the Vikings’ fearsome foursome looks to return to form against the Texans. If Osweiler does try to stretch the defense, expect the “Purple” to blitz the inexperienced and mistake-prone Osweiler continually. In the Texans’ last contest versus the Patriots, the quarterback played scared, looking lost during much of the game. Vikings fans are eager to see more of the same on Sunday. Zimmer will attempt, and probably succeed, to force Osweiler into making poor throws that end up in the hands of the defensive mastermind’s secondary.
Conclusion
This game comes down to the Vikings putting Brock Osweiler in a position to either win or lose the game. The 6’7 quarterback clearly lacks the same MVP stature as the last three passers they have faced in Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Eli Manning. This makes the Texans’ signal callers task extremely daunting. The Vikings should remain undefeated at home and for 2016 heading into their bye-week.
