Commanders keys vs. Vikings: Punish mistakes, disrupt Kirk Cousins

Within the facility, Rivera reminded gamers that Washington (4-4) has a possibility Sunday in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings (6-1). Washington can prolong its successful streak to 4. It could actually break .500 for the primary time since Week 1. It could actually take down one of many few NFC groups to separate from the pack, and it could actually maintain tempo within the wild-card hunt.

“This recreation clearly is a measuring stick,” Rivera mentioned, stating the Vikings are on a five-game successful streak. “This can be a superb soccer staff that’s coming in right here. They’re driving excessive.”

Minnesota is led by acquainted faces. This might be quarterback Kirk Cousins’s first recreation at FedEx Subject since he left after the 2017 season, and Coach Kevin O’Connell’s second for the reason that former offensive coordinator departed in early 2020 following Rivera’s hiring. And whereas the Vikings are gifted and streaking, they’re additionally beatable.

Regardless of its document, Minnesota just isn’t a juggernaut. The staff usually wins shut, ugly video games, and within the locker room afterward, gamers usually harp on all of the issues they need to enhance. Information helps the self-criticism — superior statistics counsel Minnesota is about league common on offense and protection — however the staff has a exceptional knack for hitting essential performs at excellent instances.

Washington should not forgive Minnesota’s errors. If the Vikings go three-and-out on ⅔ of their drives, as they did in a win in opposition to Miami, the Commanders should put on down the protection and construct a lead. If the Vikings protection struggles to get stops on third down, because it did in a win in opposition to New Orleans, the Commanders should keep away from bailing them out with turnovers and sacks.

Disrupt a gifted offense

Maybe the largest change in Kirk Cousins from his time in Washington: He’s barely extra keen to throw to lined receivers. One massive a part of that shift appears to be having Justin Jefferson, one of many league’s prime wideouts. That mixture might pose an issue for Washington, which has struggled to cowl elite athletic broad receivers this 12 months, equivalent to Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.

In a brand new offense with Kevin O’Connell, who was the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator in between Washington and Minnesota, Jefferson strikes round. He strains up outdoors and within the slot to search out troublesome matchups. Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio attributed the brand new scheme to maximizing Cousins’s dependable skillset.

“The proper head coach on the proper time for Kirk and his profession,” Del Rio mentioned, including, “They’re placing an excellent product out. They’re placing factors on the board. They’re transferring the ball, they’re getting explosives. They’ll run it, they will throw it, the boot recreation and the play motion recreation — it’s legit. They search for chunks, and I simply assume they’re doing a pleasant job.”

Overcome lack of linebacker depth

For the second week in a row, the Commanders might be with out center linebacker Cole Holcomb (foot), and this week, they may also lose his backup David Mayo (hamstring). Final week Washington overcame Holcomb’s absence by entrusting security Kam Curl with play-calling obligations and utilizing extra formations with 5 defensive linemen and three safeties.

Whereas Del Rio might deploy an identical blueprint Sunday — 5 linemen in run-likely conditions, three safeties in pass-likely — he might nonetheless have to make use of a linebacker along with starter Jamin Davis for stretches. Final week Mayo performed 19 snaps. His alternative would doubtless be Jon Bostic, with Khaleke Hudson and De’Jon “Scoota” Harris as backups.

If simply Davis, the 2021 first-round choose, is on the sphere, Rivera mentioned the staff is gaining confidence in him regardless of a rocky begin to the season.

“In our eyes, he’s on the rise,” Rivera mentioned. “We like what we’ve seen from him, particularly as of late; he’s actually sort of taken a few steps.”

Final week in opposition to Arizona, Minnesota edge rusher Za’Darius Smith continued his run of dominance by racking up three sacks and producing one other strain to assist power an interception. Smith will get assist from his teammates — together with Danielle Hunter and Dalvin Tomlinson, who’s out this week — however he’s probably the most harmful defender.

This season, in response to TruMedia, 99 defensive gamers have rushed the quarterback no less than 150 instances. Smith’s strain fee (18.1 %) ranks fifth. Smith often strains up over the left sort out, however final week in Arizona the Vikings usually used him as a mismatch inside in opposition to the middle.

Offensive coordinator Scott Turner mentioned Smith is “the quantity No. 1 man you circle” when getting ready for the Vikings.

“We’re going to do some stuff to assist as a lot as we will the place we don’t have him singled actually on anyone however positively on the middle,” Turner mentioned. “We’re going to have our eyes on him and be sure that he doesn’t wreck the sport.”

Washington dominated out Holcomb, Mayo, broad receiver Jahan Dotson (hamstring), and operating again J.D. McKissic (neck). It listed defensive finish Shaka Toney (calf) as questionable.

Minnesota dominated out Tomlinson (calf) and listed cornerback Cam Dantzler Sr. (neck) and reserve broad receiver Jalen Nailor (sickness) as questionable.

Tomlinson, a 6-foot-3, 325-pound power on the within, is a giant loss. If Dantzler can’t play, the Vikings would lose their beginning nook reverse star Patrick Peterson.