A Game-Changing Element in Vikings’ Playbook
The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason with numerous questions surrounding the team, and the entire philosophy of the operation was tested when Kirk Cousins departed. The dynamic duo of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell invested in key spots to acquire talent, but one aspect always remained in their focus.
A Game-Changing Element in Vikings’ Playbook
The ability to run the ball is a forgotten but vital element in the NFL. In the past, when teams had an elite runner, the playoffs were almost guaranteed. Nowadays, the NFL is a passing league, and most yards are generated through the air. In the last few years, Minnesota was one of the top teams in passing percentage.
O’Connell loves to drive up the passing numbers. It’s the most efficient way to move down the field and the best method for this team to move the ball. However, it’s vital to do both. The Vikings haven’t done a good job under O’Connell running the ball.
That might have changed in the last few weeks, though.
In the last three weeks, the Vikings rank inside the top ten in EPA/rush and rush success rate. Aaron Jones and his crew rushed 68 times in those three games for 297 yards and 4.4 yards per carry.
Those are not elite numbers, but having an average ground game is an improvement from the midseason struggles and the previous campaign.
Throughout the season, Jones has been a massive upgrade over the departed Alexander Mattison, who was a decent RB2 but couldn’t reach the level of a reliable RB1.
Jones has easily surpassed Mattison’s numbers from last year by producing 979 yards and five touchdowns on the ground and 39 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver.
The veteran finished last year’s season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the Packers, and we might have seen the beginning of his hot streak this year, recording 4.95 yards per carry, 347 yards, and four touchdowns from scrimmage in the last four contests.
After a strong start to his Vikings career, Jones struggled for a while last month with some minor injuries, but he appears to be getting healthy and to his best form right in time for the late-season stretch.
His backup, Cam Akers, didn’t have a productive day on the stat sheet, but he passed the eye test against the Bears despite having ten carries for 24 yards. He also scored a short-yardage touchdown and had some late-game plays in which the opposition leaned toward favoring the run defense. Those things hurt the numbers.
Regardless, Akers has rushed 51 times since returning to the Vikings, gaining 211 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for 33 yards and another score through the air.
The next matchup against the Seahawks will be against a defensive front that held Josh Jacobs in check on a per-play basis but overall allowed Green Bay to run for 140 yards. Throughout the season, Seattle ranks 14th in EPA/run and 22nd in rushing yards allowed. It should be noted, though, that Seattle has done a better job at stopping the ground game following their Week 10 bye.
At the end of the day, the Vikings need a balanced offense to be a real Super Bowl contender, and in the last few games, they have done that. It will once again be a key on Sunday.
Editor’s Note: Information from rbsdm and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt