Three Ways the Minnesota Vikings Could Exploit the Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13, a well-rounded football team. Here are three ways the Vikings will challenge the Atlanta Falcons in this Sunday’s meeting.

Playoff football has come a month early for our beloved Atlanta Falcons. With the 7-4 Seattle Seahawks breathing down the Falcons’ necks, each game from hereon out becomes a must win in order to maintain control of their own destiny.

Making matters worse is the fact that Atlanta possesses the hardest remaining strength of schedule in the league. Due up first on the murderers’ row of games is the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings, currently the NFC’s number two seed.

The Vikings come to Atlanta sporting a seven-game winning streak and should be well-rested, having last played on Thanksgiving Day. Mike Zimmer’s bunch will be a tough out on Sunday and should serve as a measuring stick for the Falcons.

Below are three ways the Vikings could exploit the Falcons in this critical NFC match-up.

The Vikings Third Down Offense

It’s been well documented the Atlanta Falcons defense has had issues getting off the field this season. According to NFL Matchup’s Twitter account, the Falcons are one of the worst defenses in the league in 3rd and medium situations.

That doesn’t bode well for a unit getting set to face one of the best third down offenses in football. The Vikings come into Sunday with the second ranked offense on third downs. (Coincidentally enough, the Falcons offense boasts the league’s best unit in that category by quite a wide margin in fact.)

Part of what makes Minnesota so effective on the “money down” is their talented wide receiver duo. Both Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs fall in the top 10 in third down receptions that result in a first down with 20 and 14, respectively. Not to mention, their buddy, tight end Kyle Rudolph, is not too far behind with 11 such receptions.

With Atlanta’s secondary a bit nicked up, it’s paramount the pass rush finds a way to have an impact on the game.

The Vikings Pass Protection

The only problem with that is the Vikings offensive line leads the NFL in adjusted sack rate. Simply put, Minnesota allows the fewest sacks of any offensive line in football.

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And before you suggest that Vikings quarterback Case Keenum gets the ball out of his hands quickly–like a Drew Brees, for example–let me stop you there. Per PFF, Keenum averages 2.71 seconds per throw, good for only 21st among qualifying quarterbacks.

In other words, if you can get past the first line of defense, the opportunity for sacks are there. But for a Falcons pass rush that has been inconsistent all year, that will be easier said than done.

One bright spot, however, is that Vikings starting right tackle Mike Remmers has been ruled out already for Sunday’s game. Rashod Hill (who?) will get the start in his place, so this could be the game Vic Beasley breaks out this season, something even Dan Quinn has been looking for.

The Vikings Run Defense

As for the match-up between Atlanta’s 7th rated Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) offense versus Minnesota’s 6th rated DVOA defense, whoever has the better effort in the run game will likely prevail in this contest. Through 11 games, the Vikings defense is holding opponents to 75.5 rushing yards per game.

Stopping the run is the very blueprint for containing the high octane Falcons offense. Without the run game, Atlanta becomes one dimensional and no longer has the threat of the run-action passing plays at their disposal.

If that happens, the Vikings pass rush will open up hunting season on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. For a team that also possesses one of the best pass rushing tandems in Everson Griffen (12 sacks) and Danielle Hunter (6 sacks), that’s a scary proposition.

Tackles Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder must be at their best for Atlanta to have a chance in this match-up. The national media wants to make this game about Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones versus Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes. In actuality, though, this match-up boils down to third downs and who can protect their quarterback best.

Next: Bad news for the Atlanta Falcons

If Atlanta can win in those two areas, they will put an end to Minnesota’s seven-game win streak.