Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota was just one of last season surprises, getting to the playoffs in spite of having a number of concerns on both offense as well as defense. The question is whether this is sustainable, whether the Minnesota can proceed on their upward trend or whether it was just a one-time fluke.
The greatest issue for the Cincinnati in this competition is quitting Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson and keeping the pass rush out of Bengals QB Andy Dalton's face. Both points are definitely feasible for the Cincinnati; as such, I have them taking out the close win.
Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals
The above is the long-lasting photo of the Vikings' last year: superstar tailback Adrian Peterson hurrying for 12 goals and also 2,097 backyards pressure of pure will and also skill. Peterson sealed his location in history with a historic season; he sealed his location in football tale less than a year removed from burning out his ACL.
Though Peterson blasted via resisting defensive lines, prospective tacklers as well as dashed previous secondary's, the image records another thing: exactly how inefficient his passing-game teammates were in support.
Percy Harvin and Christian Ponder team rounded up merely 2,751 yards as a device and placed 31st in the NFL in passing yardage. Consider did an appropriate job of discarding off passes to his hot checks out and also check downs but made very few plays.
Contemplates anemic 6.1 placed him 31st out of 32 certifying QB in raw ordinary backyards each attempt, basing on Pro Football Reference. He was also dead last in ordinary yards per completion with just 9.8.
Nobody in the NFL was tossing it shorter than Christian Ponder. Nevertheless, Adrian Prometheus, emergency room, Peterson, led the Minnesota to a 14th-best 23.7 factors per game. On defense, the Minnesota line and also cornerback pair held challengers to a 14th-best 21.8 factors per game. Their 1.9 average factor differential provided them 8.8 Pythagorean victories, so their 10-6 record was probably a little much better compared to their real performance.
The Minnesota additionally experienced considerable workers losses. After trading away leading receiver Percy Harvin, the Minnesota blew much of their free-agent spending plan by taking wide out Greg Jennings far from the rival Packers.
Also if Jennings is a 1:1 substitute for Harvin, the Minnesota, Antoine Winfield shed top corner , Jasper Brinkley linebacker as well as Geoff Schwartz guard . Their various other key free-agent addition was signing quarterback Matt Cassell to back up or perhaps press Ponder.
All informed, the Minnesota are going to have their work suitable them to live in the upper fifty percent of the division ... or perhaps to prevent returning to its basement.
The Cincinnati Bengals and also Minnesota Vikings are both coming off improbable runs to the playoffs with hard divisions. Neither was supposed to be safeguarding its right to return to the postseason this year, and it's completely feasible neither does. The Minnesota, like every other group, will battle to quit A.J. Green and the Cincinnati passing assault. Generally, the Minnesota rely on the pass rush of the defensive line to cover the second, but with the Cincinnati impressive pass protection, that's unlikely to be a winning technique.
Andy Dalton might not be better than Christian Ponder, yet there's no doubt that Green poses a bigger hazard to the Minnesota secondary compared to Greg Jennings does to the Cincinnati additional. Unless turnovers or a very early Minnesota lead swing momentum substantially, this must be a clear Cincinnati victory.
Score Prediction: 28-14, Bengals
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