The Ravens come to the Metrodome having lost two in a row. The Bengals beat them last week by a last second touchdown that seemed to demoralize the defense. Whereas, Minnesota is flying high from the emotional win over the Packers in Week 4 and the demolition of the Rams in Week 5.
This week poses an intriguing interconference match-up against an AFC North team that has been known for its stingy defense. This year’s version of the Ravens has an identity crises, as the defense no longer is carrying the team, ranking 26th in pass defense. The offense is bestowed with the responsibility of outscoring opponents because no lead is safe with the Ravens’ leaky pass coverage.
There are several aspects of this game that need to be evaluated in depth, so I have boiled them down to the following five keys to the game:
1. Vikings Must Establish the Running Game
Although the Vikings have shown diversity in the offense (as they have been able to beat teams that have neutralized the running attack ['Niners, Packers and Rams]), the ground game will be essential to winning this Sunday. The Ravens are vulnerable to the run and were gashed for 120 yards on 27 carries by a reinvigorated Cedric Benson in Week 5. Benson was able to run off tackle with decent success against the vaunted 3-4 defense of the Ravens, which boasts Pro Bowler’s such as Haloti Ngata, Trevor Pryce and Ray Lewis.
With the power running game the Vikings possess, it is imperative that a heavy dose of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor be showcased on Sunday. Even if the gains are minimal, the Vikings must stick with the ground assault in order to force the Ravens to bring the 8th man in the box. In doing so, the secondary will be vulnerable to deep routes over the middle and flag routes to the outside.
An added incentive this Sunday will be for Chester Taylor, who is playing against his former team in the Ravens. Look for him to run with more authority and purpose to prove the management of the Ravens was wrong in letting him go to free agency.
2. Vikings Must Contain the One-Two Punch at Running Back
Not only do the Vikings have to establish the run, they must also be able to stop the running attack of the Ravens. The Ravens come to town with the 5th ranked rushing attack, averaging 133.6 yards per game. Similar to the Vikings, they possess a one-two combination in Ray Rice and Leron McClain.
As to the former, Rice is a speed back with a low center of gravity, making him tough to bring to the ground. The Vikings will have to flow to the football every time he touches the ball; otherwise he is capable of breaking an arm tackle for a touchdown (a la Week 5 against the Bengals). As to McClain, he is a fullback playing running back. His brute strength is coupled with surprising speed, so the Vikings will have to gang-tackle him at all times. He fits the mold of Leroy Hoard, with deceptive speed and a non-stop attitude.
Both running backs present a formidable challenge this week. So far this season, the Vikings have not been the dominant force defending the run that has made them the top defense in this category for the past three years. This week will be a true test against a team that mirrors their own power running game.
Let’s see if they are up to the task.
3. Favre Cannot Throw Across His Body
Favre has been judicious with the football, throwing only two interceptions to date. I will absolve him of the interception against the ‘Niners because it was the product of a tipped pass on Berrian’s end, which should have been a reception.
His interception against the lowly Rams, however, was completely his doing. Favre committed the cardinal sin by throwing across his body, which led to James Laurinitaus picking him off (incidentally, he is from Plymouth, Mn.) Although this interception did not place the Vikings in jeopardy of losing the game, against the Ravens this can have catastrophic consequences.
Ed Reed patrols the center of the field for the Ravens’ defense. For the past five seasons, he leads the league in interceptions and has made a living out of taking them back for a touchdown. Most recently, Reed intercepted Carson Palmer’s pass in the second quarter and scampered all the way back for a touchdown. This pick-six came on a slant pass that was intended for Ocho Cinco, which Reed diagnosed from the snap and jumped in front of for the play.
Favre must take notice of Reed’s playmaking ability and should exercise caution any time he looks up the field for a pass. He cannot stare down any receiver or, even worse, throw across his body because Reed will likely make him pay for it.
Look for the Vikings to employ three-step drops in order for Favre to hit his targets in rhythm, thereby nullifying Reed’s ability to lie in wait for an interception.
4. Reed Goes for the Pump Fake
The inverse of Reed’s ability to make plays in the secondary is his penchant for taking the pump fake. Like Favre, Reed has a “riverboat gambler’s” mentality and is willing to take risks in order to make a dynamic play. This year, he has been beaten on several plays over the middle, by virtue of the quarterback giving him a fake one way and coming back to another target.
In a Week 2 win against the Chargers, Reed bit on a fake twice, one of which resulted in a 35-yard touchdown over the middle to Vincent Jackson. Both plays mirrored one another, in that Reed seemed to overplay the route he thought was the target and was burned for a big play down the field.
Favres’ ability to manipulate the safety with moving him with his eyes, along with pump fakes, should open up voids that the Vikings can take advantage of. Especially in light of Favres’ arm-strength to get the ball down the field, look for Berrian, Rice and Harvin to generate big plays down the field in the voids left by Reed’s gambling tactics.
5. Keep Flacco in the Pocket
Joe Flacco is a strong-arm quarterback with surprising quickness. Although he is a prototypical passer who prefers to drop back and fire the ball once his back foot hits the ground, he is more than capable of breaking down the defense with his legs.
Jared Allen and Ray Edwards must ensure that they maintain contain on the outside and force Flacco to throw from the pocket. Otherwise, he can leak out for first downs that will continue drives.
Other than Aaron Rodgers in Week 4, the Vikings have not faced a quarterback who can move from the pocket as Flacco can. Therefore, containment on the edges will be critical to neutralizing the Ravens’ offense, forcing Flacco to throw from a known launching point. In doing so, Allen & Co. will be able to generate sacks and pressures with more regularity.
[Shahaab Tehrani can be reached at: shahaabt@yahoo.com]
