The Minnesota Vikings have a chance to bounce back from the most embarrassing loss in team history when they host the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving night this Thursday. It won’t be an easy task against a 6-4 Patriots team that is still coached by Bill Belichick. They will be prepared for everything the Vikings throw at them and their main concern will be to stop star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. As we look forward to the game on Thursday night, we identified five keys for the Vikings to beat the Patriots. Adjust, adjust, adjust Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports The loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday was due to two main factors: they slaughtered the Vikings in the trenches and the offense didn’t adjust. The film showed that head coach Kevin O’Connell had a solid game plan, but once the Cowboys’ defense started getting to Kirk Cousins consistently, he failed to adjust with any form of consistency. That is a big problem for the Vikings moving forward, but O’Connell will need to get it fixed quickly, especially going against Bill Belichick. Get Justin Jefferson involved early Nov 6, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs after a catch against the Washington Commanders during the second half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports The Vikings have one of the best receivers in the National Football League and they need to make him a priority this Thursday night against the New England Patriots. Whether it be deep or short route concepts, they need to get him the ball frequently and let him work his magic with his route running and in open space. Pressure the quarterback Oct 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1)in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports The defense that Ed Donatell runs is built upon getting pressure with just four pass rushers. Against the Dallas Cowboys, the Vikings’ defense only generated 10 pressures with nobody registering more than two. Against a non-athletic quarterback in Mac Jones, they need to up their game and disrupt him in the pocket early and often. That will help a banged-up secondary that could see one of Kris Boyd or Duke Shelley starting on Thursday. Make Blake Brandel's life easier Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Blake Brandel (64) during the NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports Brandel will be making his first start in his 21st career game and will be doing so protecting Cousins’ blindside at left tackle. The Vikings need to make things easier on him and they can do so in a lot of ways. Play-action, bootlegs, help from a tight end/running back and the short passing game are all ways that the Vikings can hide the fact that he isn’t Christian Darrisaw. Play disciplined football Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans react during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports The Vikings have been among the league’s best in not committing penalties but they didn’t do a great job on Sunday against the Cowboys. They committed a season-high seven penalties for 59 yards and some of those penalties came in very untimely situations. Against a Belichick team, the Vikings will need to play their best football. VIKINGS WIRE
Thats a damn good defense the Patriots have... Minnesota must play better in the trenches or its a repeat of the Cowboys game, in my opinion. Honestly, this game worries me a bunch.
Surprised they came out guns a blazing went right down the field and scored Vikings 7 Patriots 0 well the Patriots just scored Vikings 7 Patriots 7 where was anybody that TD was an easy TD
hello, Baddman! 7-7... going to be fun i hope. gidion72 has a turkey day football thred started, can you find it and you want to chat there?
Takeaways: Justin Jefferson torches Patriots' previously stingy D. Bill Belichick famously takes away the opposing offense's best player, forcing second and third options to beat him. Jefferson flipped the script. The Pats D had no answer for the star receiver. Jefferson hauled in nine of 11 targets for 139 yards and the game's first TD. Seemingly every time Kirk Cousins needed a big play, he looked Jefferson's way. It wasn't against some rag-tag group, either. The Patriots entered the contest allowing the league's fourth-fewest passing yards per game and rated No. 1 in pass DVOA by Football Outsiders. Still, they couldn't slow Jefferson. The wideout got open underneath, over the middle, on the outside, deep. You name it. Jefferson was there with sticky hands. The 23-year-old is so tough on contested catches he makes Cousins look good even when the ball isn't perfect. Vice-grip hands, crisp routes, acceleration mid-route, there isn't a hole in Jefferson's game. With the massive night, Jefferson passed Randy Moss for the most receiving yards through a player's first three seasons in NFL history. Jefferson has 4,248 yards. He still has six games left. Patriots waste Mac Jones' best day as offense fizzles. Jones got off to a hot start, tossing completions of 26 and 34 yards on a quick TD drive to open the game. The second-year QB threw some gorgeous balls early, getting the pigskin out quickly, peppering the defense and spreading the love. Jones threw for a career-high 382 yards with two touchdowns for a season-best 119.8 passer rating. However, New England again struggled in the red zone (0-for-3) and, with no run game to lean on, puttered in the fourth quarter, including two three-and-outs. Late in the game, the stretch throws and gashes over the middle disappeared, rendering the Pats offense to a bevy of quick screens. Jones' pocket presence waned in the final few drives, and he took two bad sacks to kill a chance at a comeback. Special teams turns the tide. Following a Patriots TD drive to open the third quarter, Vikings kick returner Kene Nwangwu dashed for a 97-yard TD that evened the score. The play was a turning point on special teams that went Minnesota's way. Later the Pats were flagged for running into the punter on a fourth-and-4, giving the Vikes drive new life. Minnesota responded by driving for what wound up being the game-winning TD. New England's nightmare second half on special teams continued with a 31-yard punt the next drive. After winning with a punt return on Sunday, the Patriots' special teams failed miserably Thursday. NFL Research: Since joining the Vikings, Kirk Cousins has had two prime-time wins with at least pass TDs: Thursday vs. New England and Thanksgiving Day in 2018 vs. Green Bay. Next Gen stat of the game: All three of Kirk Cousins' TD passes targeted a receiver running a crossing route (11 of 12, 93 yards, 3 TDs, INT). No QB has thrown more completions targeting crossing routes than Cousins this season (50). NFL.com
