Vikings offensive line has banner day vs the Chargers
Deshawn
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On a day that saw the Vikings defense utterly dominate the Chargers Offense, the performance by the Vikings offensive line may have gone unnoticed. Coming into the game the Chargers dynamic duo on their defensive line, Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa combined for over one hundred Pressures on opposing quarterbacks and over sixteen combined sacks. The Vikings on the other hand coming into Sunday, having only giving up a measly sack and a half per game. This is vastly improved and from the last season, that saw the team give up thirty four sacks on the season, and set up quite the match-up for Sunday’s contest
The expectations going into the game was that the Vikings’ offensive line would have their hands full, and give a few sacks and pressures. At the end of the day, however, the aforementioned duo had a combined zero sacks and just one lone pressure.
It wasn’t all positive, though, as the Vikings run blocking left much to be desired, as the Chargers left Safety Derwin James in the box early (and often) to ensure that Dalvin Cook didn’t gash them on the ground. Although, later in the game the Vikings did end up playing bully ball by running all over the defeated Chargers defense and scoring two rushing touchdowns thanks to third string running back Mike Boone.
Coach Kubiak and Coach Dennison both should be named in the assistant coach of the year award. The work these two have done with this offense and the line has been incredible, and it’s only been one season. Imagine two or three more seasons down the road and the kind of success they could have, especially with the amount of draft picks they could hand select for their zone rushing scheme.
The Vikings are starting to click just at the right time. They now take their new found confidence back home for a Monday night showdown with the division leading Green Bay Packers. Let’s hope that they can continue to build on this offensive line success against the Packers new look front.