The Vikings at Raiders: One Stat, Quote, and Matchup to Know Ahead of Week 14
K. Joudry
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With the bye week in the rear view mirror, the Vikings will charge ahead in pursuit of an unlikely playoff berth. The only thing standing in their way is themselves. At 6-6, Minnesota is fully in control of its own playoff destiny. Winning every game means a guaranteed spot in the final tournament.
A trip to Sin City awaits.
Giving fans a better understanding of what’s to come for the Vikings at Raiders involves PurplePTSD offering up a single statistic, quotation, and matchup to keep in mind. The hope, valued reader, is that the information contained in this piece can function as a bit of a primer for what’s to come in the Sunday matchup.
Vikings at Raiders: Week 14
10 + 14 = 24 (And Some Losing Football)
Toss all of Josh Dobbs’ interceptions and fumbles together. The grand total would be 24, an astounding number when we consider that he has played in 12 games. On average, there is more than a fumble per game and a bit less than an interception per game.
Not excellent, folks.
The Vikings, particularly Kevin O’Connell, are putting a lot of faith in the quarterback. And, to be sure, there is reason to believe in him. The man really is brilliant. He doesn’t get enough credit for his toughness and it’s obvious that he’s a first-rate competitor. The dude cares about winning, and that means something.
The concern is simply that Minnesota’s most recent losses — the Sunday Night Football defeat in Denver and then the Monday Night Football defeat to Chicago — derived largely from the turnovers Dobbs was a part of. Plus, he was guilty of an intentional grounding penalty in each tilt, which are backbreaking plays.
There will be no playoff push if the Vikings continue turning the ball over. Taking care of the football doesn’t guarantee a victory, but turning it over at the same rate basically guarantees a loss.
Quote: Kevin O’Connell Has Belief but He Also has Limits
Let’s keep the Dobbs chatter rolling.
O’Connell sent a fairly clear message in his press conference: if Dobbs doesn’t play well, then Nick Mullens is going to get inserted into the game (presser link). “Nick Mullens will be ready to go. We’ll prepare Nick like we always do. He’s one of the most professional guys I’ve been around, always ready to roll. And our entire team knows that they can count on Nick when called upon.”
Maybe the head coach is simply running through the QB options. After all, he brings things around to Jaren Hall, praising the rookie and explaining that it’s a top priority to continue developing the BYU alumnus.
It is notable, though, that O’Connell made a particular point about Mullens being ready. Sure, any backup who is worth having as a backup prepares as if he’s going to play, but the coach went out of his way to ensure we all understood that Nick Mullens will be dressed for action.
The implication is that Josh Dobbs is being leaned on to continue as the starter, but with a caveat. He won’t get the hook for the first or even the second major error. If, however, he struggles for an entire half, then the Vikings feel confident in bringing things around to Mullens. The coach made sure everyone knew as much.
Matchup: Maxx Crosby vs. The Gruesome Tackle Twosome
Turn up the heat. Good chance Antonio Pierce, the interim head coach of the Raiders, is looking to do precisely that.
The 5-7 Raiders aren’t doing too badly on defense. On average, they allow 21.3 points per game, which isn’t too far off from Minnesota’s 20.2 points against per game. Much of Las Vegas’ ability to stifle the other team comes from the play from star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The man is a terror to block.
As a team, Las Vegas has 28 sacks. Crosby is responsible for picking up 11.5 of them. No one else has 3 or more sacks for the Raiders. He’s also the proud owner of 15 TFLs, so it’s safe to say that the defender is more than capable of making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are going to have their hands full. Both are having strong seasons, with the left tackle being particularly excellent. Whoever hangs in the pocket can do so with the assurance that a pair of wonderful OTs are offering protection up front. Nevertheless, simply letting Crosby pin his ears back without helping the tackles may be a foolish move.
At times, the Vikings may task C.J. Ham with chipping Crosby. The Vikings sometimes task the fullback with moving out wide before motioning in, prompting the defense to adjust a bit. He will sometimes linger in the slot instead of moving fully into the backfield. When the ball is snapped, Ham will hustle to chip the DE before releasing on a short route.
Otherwise, look for Josh Oliver (and T.J. Hockenson, as well) to be tasked with doing some dirty work. Refusing to allow Crosby to take over the game will help to ensure Minnesota can operate their offense with rhythm and efficiency.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
Vikings Announce Starting QB for Week 14
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.