The Vikings O-Line Will Be Key to Success in Week 15

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Sep 25, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (2) reacts center Garrett Bradbury (56) and offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Over the course of recent weeks, the Vikings offense has been what’s keeping this group afloat. The defense now ranks No. 32 in terms of yards allowed, and they’ve allowed 25+ points in four of the last five games. Even still, the Vikings are 3-2 in this five-game stretch because the offense has shown up.

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That being said, the Vikings o-line has been under some scrutiny, especially in the most recent three games without star left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Kirk Cousins has been sacked 33 times this year, the eighth-most of any quarterback in the NFL. He’s been hit 67 times, the most in the entire league. Justin Herbert is second with 60.

This week, Darrisaw appears set to make his return to the field, so Minnesota will get a boost to their offensive line, especially in pass protection. It couldn’t come at a better time either with a game against the Indianapolis Colts defensive front. The Vikings o-line will play a key role in Minnesota finding success in Week 15.

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Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports.

Now, it may seem strange to hype up a 4-8-1 Colts team that is on a three-game losing streak and is coming off a 35-point loss against the Dallas Cowboys. That being said, their defensive front is nothing to scoff at.

According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are fifth in the NFL in terms of QB hurry percentage. They hurry opposing quarterbacks on 9.1% of dropbacks. They only have 32 sacks to show for it, but they have shown a knack for getting after opposing QBs.

Looking at their personnel, this should be viewed as no surprise. The Colts employ a number of exquisite pass rushers on their defense. Most notably, Yannick Ngakoue, the former Viking, leads the group with 8.5 sacks, tied for 15th in the NFL. Both DeForest Buckner and Kwity Paye have each recorded 5+ sacks on the season as well.

Sep 19, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) snaps the football along side of guard Ezra Cleveland (72) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Overall, unlike the Vikings defense, the Colts have proven that they can generate pressure from anywhere on their defensive front. They have a pair of strong EDGE rushers, and Buckner can wreak havoc on the interior as well. This means that not only do both Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill have to be at the top of their games, but so do interior guys like Ezra Cleveland and Ed Ingram, each of whom have had struggles against pass rushers on the interior.

This is the Vikings best chance to beat an opponent handedly for the rest of the season. After Saturday, they have a home game against the New York Giants, which could be a playoff preview, and then they have a pair of divisional road games against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears to close the season. In order to do that, they are going to need to get some strong production from their o-line.

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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