Week 7 Matchup: Vikings at Cowboys
Sunday, 4:15 p.m. ET (FOX), Texas Stadium
The Edge
Quarterback: Advantage Dallas
Running backs: Advantage Minnesota
Receivers: Advantage Dallas
Offensive line: Advantage Dallas
Defensive line: Advantage Minnesota
Linebackers: Advantage Dallas
Secondary: Advantage Dallas
Pass rushers: Advantage Dallas
Special teams: Advantage Minnesota
Depth: Advantage Dallas
Coaching: Advantage Dallas
Prediction Vikings 14 Cowboys 38
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Vikings-Cowboys matchup:
Vikings Keys For Success
1. Keep riding Adrian Peterson. A shoe-in for the rookie of the year after only five games, Peterson is the Vikings' offense right now. After watching Peterson shred the previously-vaunted Bears defense for 224 yards rushing and three touchdowns last week, Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell surely will keep calling A.P.'s number. Bevell is doing a good job of not overusing Peterson and wearing him down; last week, Peterson had 20 carries and Chester Taylor had 23. By running off-tackle plays to the left behind Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, Peterson (or Taylor) can follow the block of fullback Tony Richardson as he leads on inside linebacker Bradie James.
2. Stop the run. The Vikings' defense is solid against the run -- allowing only 66.2 yards per game -- and must make the Cowboys one-dimensional by stuffing Marion Barber III and Julius Jones. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier should have linebackers E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway and Ben Leber stack the line and give them run-first assignments. This could force the Cowboys to abandon their running ways behind a powerful offensive line, led by right guard Leonard Davis, and resort to the passing game. The Vikings have strong pass rushers in Kenechi Udeze and Ray Edwards, who can get sacks if the Vikings can take away the run on early downs and force quarterback Tony Romo into third-and-long situations.
3. Attack the safeties. Dallas safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin are strong against the run but struggle in coverage, especially reading downfield passes. Bevell should open up the offense and use speed receivers Sidney Rice and Troy Williamson to attack Williams and Hamlin down the middle of the field. This would give the Vikings big-play opportunities in the passing game while attacking a weakness of the defense. These deep passes also would open up underneath routes for wide receiver Bobby Wade and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Throw more to tight end Jason Witten. Witten is one of the NFL's top tight ends and should be used Sunday to exploit the middle of the field against the Vikings. Strong safety Darren Sharper said last week that he is not afraid of any tight end in the NFL. The Bears' tight ends then burned the Vikings for eight catches for 111 yards. Witten should use his speed and size to post up right in front of Sharper and catch dig routes and hitches for average gains. Once Sharper starts squatting on the shorter routes, Witten can run a stop-and-go route to beat Sharper down the seam.
2. Get Romo outside the pocket. Romo is an accurate passer and shows good touch outside the pocket, especially when rolling to his right. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett should take advantage of Romo's legs by sending Terrell Owens (6-3, 226) and Patrick Crayton (6-0, 205) on downfield routes to the right side of the field against cornerback Antoine Winfield (5-9, 180). With Romo rolling that way, he can shorten the field, drive the ball on a line and use his receivers' size to pick up big yardage.
3. Blitz quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson, in his second season out of Alabama State, completed only 9-of-23 passes last week against the Bears. Dallas coach Wade Phillips is a defensive-minded coach who must unleash his defensive playmakers Sunday. Phillips should blitz outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware at big but slow right tackle Ryan Cook. Ware should win these battles more times than not, and even if he fails he would free up defensive end Marcus Spears to go one-on-one against right guard Anthony Herrera, who has only eight starts in his four-year career.
The Edge
Quarterback: Advantage Dallas
Running backs: Advantage Minnesota
Receivers: Advantage Dallas
Offensive line: Advantage Dallas
Defensive line: Advantage Minnesota
Linebackers: Advantage Dallas
Secondary: Advantage Dallas
Pass rushers: Advantage Dallas
Special teams: Advantage Minnesota
Depth: Advantage Dallas
Coaching: Advantage Dallas
Prediction Vikings 14 Cowboys 38
War Room scouts break down every NFL game. Here is a excerpt of their Vikings-Cowboys matchup:
Vikings Keys For Success
1. Keep riding Adrian Peterson. A shoe-in for the rookie of the year after only five games, Peterson is the Vikings' offense right now. After watching Peterson shred the previously-vaunted Bears defense for 224 yards rushing and three touchdowns last week, Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell surely will keep calling A.P.'s number. Bevell is doing a good job of not overusing Peterson and wearing him down; last week, Peterson had 20 carries and Chester Taylor had 23. By running off-tackle plays to the left behind Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, Peterson (or Taylor) can follow the block of fullback Tony Richardson as he leads on inside linebacker Bradie James.
2. Stop the run. The Vikings' defense is solid against the run -- allowing only 66.2 yards per game -- and must make the Cowboys one-dimensional by stuffing Marion Barber III and Julius Jones. Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier should have linebackers E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway and Ben Leber stack the line and give them run-first assignments. This could force the Cowboys to abandon their running ways behind a powerful offensive line, led by right guard Leonard Davis, and resort to the passing game. The Vikings have strong pass rushers in Kenechi Udeze and Ray Edwards, who can get sacks if the Vikings can take away the run on early downs and force quarterback Tony Romo into third-and-long situations.
3. Attack the safeties. Dallas safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin are strong against the run but struggle in coverage, especially reading downfield passes. Bevell should open up the offense and use speed receivers Sidney Rice and Troy Williamson to attack Williams and Hamlin down the middle of the field. This would give the Vikings big-play opportunities in the passing game while attacking a weakness of the defense. These deep passes also would open up underneath routes for wide receiver Bobby Wade and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.
Cowboys Keys For Success
1. Throw more to tight end Jason Witten. Witten is one of the NFL's top tight ends and should be used Sunday to exploit the middle of the field against the Vikings. Strong safety Darren Sharper said last week that he is not afraid of any tight end in the NFL. The Bears' tight ends then burned the Vikings for eight catches for 111 yards. Witten should use his speed and size to post up right in front of Sharper and catch dig routes and hitches for average gains. Once Sharper starts squatting on the shorter routes, Witten can run a stop-and-go route to beat Sharper down the seam.
2. Get Romo outside the pocket. Romo is an accurate passer and shows good touch outside the pocket, especially when rolling to his right. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett should take advantage of Romo's legs by sending Terrell Owens (6-3, 226) and Patrick Crayton (6-0, 205) on downfield routes to the right side of the field against cornerback Antoine Winfield (5-9, 180). With Romo rolling that way, he can shorten the field, drive the ball on a line and use his receivers' size to pick up big yardage.
3. Blitz quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson, in his second season out of Alabama State, completed only 9-of-23 passes last week against the Bears. Dallas coach Wade Phillips is a defensive-minded coach who must unleash his defensive playmakers Sunday. Phillips should blitz outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware at big but slow right tackle Ryan Cook. Ware should win these battles more times than not, and even if he fails he would free up defensive end Marcus Spears to go one-on-one against right guard Anthony Herrera, who has only eight starts in his four-year career.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:43 PM
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