Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
The Minnesota Vikings are set to tackle a troublesome journey by way of the NFL playoffs.
The Vikings might have clinched the No. 1 seed within the NFC final Sunday with a win over the Detroit Lions, however now that they’ve misplaced, the Vikings will as a substitute maintain the No. 5 seed within the convention regardless of successful 14 video games in the course of the common season and won’t play one other residence recreation with out some main assist from different groups.
That journey by way of the playoffs begins on Monday evening for Minnesota after they head to SoFi Stadium and tackle the Los Angeles Rams.
This recreation towards the Rams will probably be a rematch of Minnesota’s Week 8 loss to Los Angeles on Thursday Evening Soccer by a rating of 30-20.
On Tuesday, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores revealed a key element concerning that matchup, which hopefully offers Vikings followers hope that the end result can finish otherwise this time round.
Can the Vikings Bounce Again and Beat the Rams within the Rematch?
Flores talked about that Thursday Evening Soccer matchup throughout his press convention on Tuesday, and he particularly talked about that star receiver Puka Nacua’s presence within the lineup left the Vikings “scrambling.”
Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune tweeted, “Brian Flores said the Vikings found out about four hours before the first Rams game that Puka Nacua was going to play, adding they were ‘a little bit surprised that he was out there” and saying there was ‘a little bit little bit of scrambling’ to organize for the actual fact he’d play. The Rams, Flores stated, are ‘very different’ with Nacua. The Vikings will clearly have a plan for him this time.”
Keep in mind, forward of that recreation, Nacua had been on injured reserve resulting from a knee harm that he aggravated within the season opener towards Detroit.
There was some query as as to if Nacua would return to the lineup, and the identical query revolved round Cooper Kupp, who had additionally missed 4 video games early within the season.
Sadly for the Vikings, each gamers did find yourself returning to the lineup for that Thursday evening recreation. Kupp completed the evening with 5 catches for 51 yards and a landing whereas Nacua shredded the secondary for seven catches, 106 yards, and a landing of his personal.
It’s clearly the job of an NFL defensive coordinator to be ready for all situations when preparing for an opponent, however this specific spot left Flores and the Vikings in a reasonably precarious spot.
Firstly, the Vikings had simply come off of an emotional Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions at residence, through which they narrowly misplaced by a rating of 31-29. It was a tough fought recreation, and there have been loads of drained legs on the protection by the tip of it, particularly contemplating they had been taking part in with out LB Blake Cashman.
Then, we even have to think about that Minnesota wanted to come back off brief relaxation for this recreation. Whereas it was additionally the case for the Rams, Kupp and Nacua had been very nicely rested after sitting out for a number of weeks earlier than this recreation.
Lastly, this was additionally the sport through which Christian Darrisaw was misplaced for the season with a torn ACL. As a substitute of their stalwart left deal with, the Vikings completed the sport with David Quessenberry within the lineup. T.J. Hockenson had not but returned to the lineup both, placing additional onus on the protection to place collectively an enormous recreation.
This time round, the Vikings and Rams can have their stars on equal taking part in fields concerning relaxation. Hockenson is within the lineup as is Cashman. Whereas Darrisaw clearly nonetheless stays on the shelf, Cam Robinson has on the very least been a serviceable participant on the left deal with spot.
Flores and Minnesota’s protection will probably be seeking to get revenge on Monday evening, they usually have an excellent likelihood to flip the outcomes.
Editor’s Observe: Data from Professional Soccer Reference helped with this text.
