There isn’t a team in the NFL that is as hot as the Minnesota Vikings. They are riding a league-high five-game winning streak, putting them back in the race for the NFC North and at the very least, a Wild Card spot in the conference.
Their performance over the last five weeks has been very impressive given the obstacles they have had to overcome. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson injured his hamstring in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs and has been on IR ever since. In Week 8, starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
Neither of those things has slowed the team down. Joshua Dobbs, who was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals before the trade deadline, stepped right into the lineup and has helped keep things rolling in the right direction. But, despite their success, there is always room to grow.
In the opinion of Bryce Lazenby of AtoZ Sports, one area the Vikings should be looking to improve is their ground game. Minnesota currently ranks 29th in rushing attempts and yardage and 28th in yards per rush.
Alexander Mattison has not performed up to the level many within the organization had hoped he would. In previous years when called upon to replace Dalvin Cook, he has thrived; this season, as his permanent replacement, he has disappointed.
That is why Lazenby believes that the Vikings need to shake things up in the backfield. We may have seen the start of that in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints when Ty Chandler handled 15 snaps compared to only eight for Mattison.
A changing of the guard in the backfield could do the team some good. Chandler looked a little more explosive with his touches against the Saints than Mattison did and could be someone the team leans on more going forward, especially after Cam Akers suffered an injury.
Another option the Vikings could turn to is DeWayne McBride. The rookie is stashed on the team’s practice squad but had elite production with lightning speed in college at UAB. He could provide the offense with an added dimension and spark.
No matter who head coach Kevin O’Connell decides to go with in the backfield, the Vikings have to figure something out on the ground. It would help take some of the pressure off of Dobbs, who is still learning the playbook himself after taking part in his first practices last week.
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