PFT on NBCSN looks at how the Vikings should attack the Denver defense

Posted by Mike Florio on September 30, 2015, 5:46 PM EDT
AP

Week Four includes a fairly compelling matchup between the 2-1 Vikings and the 3-0 Broncos. Both teams were written off after Week One, with Denver winning ugly against Baltimore and the Vikings losing in putrid fashion at San Francisco. Both have rebounded nicely, and both need the win to cement their status as early-season contenders.

Much will be said about the chess match between quarterback Peyton Manning and an aggressive defensive front that has bruised and battered Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers the past two weeks. But the game will be just as interesting when Minnesota has the ball.

How will Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner attack a defense led by Wade Phillips? That’s the topic of Wednesday’s poll question on NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk.

Actually, the poll question will be a bit more results-oriented, focusing on the yardage that running back Adrian Peterson will gain. Which of course will hinge on how he’s used.

Now, use your remote and record or turn to NBCSN for the 6:00 p.m. ET show, featuring Rodney Harrison, Paul Burmeister, and yours truly.

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29 responses to “PFT on NBCSN looks at how the Vikings should attack the Denver defense”

  4. Broncos are picked to win, but this might be a big win
    for the Vikings, unless the Refs decide to put the Old man Manning in their Cradle and protect him from the Swarming Minnesota Defense.
    This isn’t going to be as big of a home field advantage for the Broncos as usual because;
    1 the Vikings are used to playing on Grass Outdoors
    2 The Vikings are a very young team and less likely to
    be bothered by the thinner air than an older team!
    3 turner has an advantage against Wade Phillips head to head.

  5. Low scoring game. Vikings pass rush will get after Manning, Denver’s D will sell out to stop Peterson. If the Vikings steal a win in Denver, this game will come down to Teddy IMO. He gets credit for his poise and demeanor, but what the Vikings needs this week is results. He can do it, especially now that Peterson is established and teams have to game plan for him, but this one won’t be easy.

  6. “2 The Vikings are a very young team and less likely to be bothered by the thinner air than an older team!”

    That one is just plain false. Ability to function in the lower air pressure is due almost entirely to acclimation and has very little to do with age. Ie; the people who live there, have lived there for awhile and normally work/practice in it will not in any way be impacted in it. Their bodies are used to it and function normally in it.

    The people who live where the air pressure is higher are not acclimated to the situation and will only be there for a couple days will certainly be impacted by it.

    My guess is you’ll see the Vikes D gassed by halftime, certainly sometime in the 3rd quarter they’ll start hurting.

  8. harrisonhits2 says:
    Sep 30, 2015 7:51 PM

    The people who live where the air pressure is higher are not acclimated to the situation and will only be there for a couple days will certainly be impacted by it.
    _________________________________________

    Sorry, but listen to Mike Wallace interview. He said he’s played enough times in Denver and that is just overrated in his opinion.

  10. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Denver use the same offensive approach that New England used against Pittsburgh in week 1, or any time they want to negate a pass rush and that would put a lot of pressure on the Vikings defense without Rhodes there and could be the difference in the game. If Denver doesn’t establish any running game and Peyton does drop back and looks downfield, we may finally get to see Osweiler play because I think that Vikings double A gap blitz and the d-line will end up breaking Manning if they go that route.

  11. Mike Zimmer said today in his press conference that Rhodes has passed all of the concussion protocols and is good to go.

    As for the original question I think the Vikings will effectively run the ball and run a lot of play action.

    Vikings win a good game 27-17

  12. Vikings have a decent Defense – but then again, whom have they played?

    They can give Denver fits but if anyone really thinks that Teddy B can stress that Denver D – they’re homers.

  15. Methinks the story will be a lot more about what the Vikes D does to Peyton than what happens when the Vikings have the ball. But thats just me.

  16. I’d feel better about Minnesota’s chances if we had ever beaten a team with a winning record in the past 22 months, if we had a real NFL QB who had more than 1 TD pass all season, if AP could actually be a productive 3-down back, if our D didn’t get shredded by veteran QBs, and if we didn’t have a head coach who fabricates stories about phantom apologies from NFL refs.

    Sadly I predict Den 37 – Min 13.

  17. The O-line is probably going to have a tough time with that Denver front 7 in passing situations, and Teddy hasn’t been too accurate under pressure this year, so Norv has some work to do before Sunday.

    The reason they get beat by Manning won’t be the altitude, since the Vikings are deep enough at D-line and LB to rotate several players to ensure they won’t wear down — the reason will be the skill of Manning (should he stay healthy) and his receivers.

    The only thing guaranteed about this game is that if the Vikes win, those to the east will say big deal Manning should be in a wheelchair, and if the Vikes lose they will say the Vikes were overrated.

  18. “teal379 says:
    Sep 30, 2015 9:02 PM
    Vikings have a decent Defense – but then again, whom have they played?

    They can give Denver fits but if anyone really thinks that Teddy B can stress that Denver D – they’re homers.”

    Well, I admit that I’m a homer. The Vikes D has played well against Detroit 0-3 and the Chargers 1-2. The Broncos D played well against the Ravens 0-3, the Chiefs 1-2, and Detroit 0-3.

    Jamaal ran for 125 yards vs the Broncos. If KC hadn’t turned it over 5 times, they would have won that game.

    The Vikings are going to try and do the same with Peterson. If they can, the Vikings can win it. Teddy needs to step up a bit from the last game, but it will be the running game that applies the stress.

  20. teal379 says:
    Sep 30, 2015 9:02 PM

    Vikings have a decent Defense – but then again, whom have they played?
    …………….
    Whom they played are the Lions and the Chargers.

  23. @absodefinitely – Rhodes has been cleared and has practiced all week and will start Sunday. Wayne showed why he was the top CB taken, so the Vikings have lots of depth in the secondary. Vikings will play tight coverage and rotate 8 guys on the DL. Payton will take some punishment, but I expect the refs will play a factor in this game. They will make sure to overprotect the old man. In the end I think Teddy will struggle again against the pass rush and Denver will win a close, low scoring game 17-9. (Walsh will miss another FG)

  24. News Flash to Vikings fans, you’re losing on Sunday. The Denver fans are going to be so loud there won’t be a snap count, gifting the NFLs best pass rush an unnecessary advantage. Your QB is leaving battered with bruises.

  26. I want to see the Vikings D play smash mouth football with an eye on knocking out the QB–straight out of Zimmer’s “Old School”.

  27. This game will come down to how well the Vikings’ LBs play in coverage.

    Manning is now shotgun reliant, and that gives him time to read a defence and get rid of the ball quickly in the short game. Take the short game away, and force him to hold onto the ball a tad longer, and that may force the offense to try running the ball more.

    The Vikings have moved away from the shotgun, and that has benefited Peterson’s performance. However, this may be a factor into why Bridgewater seems to be less effective.

    When I first thought about this game, I had the Broncos winning handsomely, but now having more time to watch each teams’ games this season, I can see the Vikings pulling off an upset:

    Vikings 27 Broncos 22

  28. harrisonhits2 says:
    Sep 30, 2015 7:51 PM

    “2 The Vikings are a very young team and less likely to be bothered by the thinner air than an older team!”

    That one is just plain false. Ability to function in the lower air pressure is due almost entirely to acclimation and has very little to do with age. Ie; the people who live there, have lived there for awhile and normally work/practice in it will not in any way be impacted in it. Their bodies are used to it and function normally in it.

    The people who live where the air pressure is higher are not acclimated to the situation and will only be there for a couple days will certainly be impacted by it.

    My guess is you’ll see the Vikes D gassed by halftime, certainly sometime in the 3rd quarter they’ll start hurting.
    ===================================
    I travel to Colorado every year and have for Decades
    I can tell you for a fact age has a HUGE impact on
    the subject!
    you can acclimate in about a day, but after my 5th or 6th trip it took me longer, I remember waking up at night with it bothering me when it didn’t when I was in my 20’s… I DEBUNK YOU with personal experience.

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