The Minnesota Vikings have had no semblance of a running game through 10 weeks. The Chicago Bears need to force them to abandon the run early on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings have one of the better teams in the NFL on paper. Yet they sit in second place in the division needing to win a road game against the Chicago Bears to keep pace. The big reason is that despite skill players galore on offense, they do not have a strong offensive line.
When you add in a weaker offensive line to Dalvin Cook missing time with an injury, you have a weakened running attack. The Vikings rank 29th in rushing attempts. They are hardly going there. It is likely because they have no faith in going there.
Yes, Latavius Murray averages 4.5 yards per carry and Dalvin Cook is at 4.1 and just came back from injury. Still, Cook only had ten rush attempts in their last game. While he took one for 70 yards that also means nine attempts for 19 yards the rest of his game.
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On a play by play basis, the Vikings rank 30th in rushing success rate. How do you have two backs averaging over four yards per carry while ranking 29th in rush attempts and 30th in efficiency? A poor offensive line.
The Vikings also rank 29th in adjusted yard lines. They are below average in yards stuffed at the line, runs of under three yards, and yards of under five yards and runs of 5-10 yards. They rank sixth in open field yards, runs of more than 10 yards.
The only way they can move the football on the ground is when their backs can break big runs. The rest is a compilation of two-yard runs and fighting to get back to the line.
Every single offensive lineman on the Vikings has a below average run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus. Tom Compton-yes Tom Compton-has have been their best run blocker. He is questionable to play in the game.
The Chicago Bears have to make sure that no runs get into the open field. They have to shut the running game down from the start. It is entirely doable. The Vikings are not focused on the running the ball because they know they are not good at it. The Bears are one of the better run defenses they will face all year and can take this away from the Vikings from the start.
Getting the Vikings to be one dimensional should be all the Chicago Bears need to get enough stops to pull out a win.