Behind The Line
Behind the Line: Cook Putting Up Emmitt-Like Stats
The Cowboys have had their share of trouble against the run this year. With that, expect the Vikings to offer up a heavy dose of Dalvin Cook, whose stats this year puts him with some elite company.
Who is the Guy? Dalvin Cook
The Vikings' RB1 is not only enjoying a career year but he is on pace to earn legendary status as a playmaker. Cook is just the fifth player since 1948 with 950-plus rush yards and 12-plus touchdowns in the first eight games of the season. Considering Terrell Davis (1,150 and 14 TDs in 1998), Emmitt Smith (979 yards and 14 TDs in 1995), Eric Dickerson (995 yards and 12 TDs in 1983) and Jim Brown (1,163 yards and 16 TDs in 1958) are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Cowboys are facing a gold jacket-caliber runner when No.33 touches the rock.
Don't Sleep On…Adam Thielen
The six-year pro is tied for the NFL lead with nine receiving touchdowns as the Vikings' No.1 receiver. As an A-plus route runner with sticky hands and outstanding ball skills, Thielen is a crafty playmaker with a knack for creating space against man or zone. He thrives as a "chain mover" or big-play specialist in an offense that creates plenty of opportunities for the playmakers on the perimeter.
Know His Name… Justin Jefferson
The LSU product might be the best receiver in the 2020 class based on his immediate impact as a playmaker. Jefferson leads all rookies with 762 receiving yards and is on pace to challenge Anquan Boldin's rookie record (1,377 in 2003). With four 100-yard games in nine starts, the Vikings' rookie receiver is a difference-maker on an offense with a number of explosive weapons.
Under Pressure… Kirk Cousins
The Vikings' much-maligned quarterback has been on a roller coaster ride for most of the season but he is starting to regain his Pro Bowl form. Cousins posted a 70-percent completion rate over the past three games with a 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 123.0 passer rating during that span. As a rhythm passer with enough mobility to attack the perimeter, he is a perfect fit for Gary Kubiak's play-action scheme.
Numbers Game:
The 2020 Vikings feature the worst scoring defense (27.4) and total defense (383.6) in the Mike Zimmer era. The loss of a few prominent starters (see Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter) and the influx of newcomers has led to some mix-ups and miscommunications that have resulted in the unit surrendering more explosive plays than we are used to seeing from a Zimmer-coached outfit.
Matchup to Watch… Ezekiel Elliott vs. Eric Kendricks
The Vikings will make a concerted effort to stop the Cowboys' No.1 offensive weapon on the ground. Kendricks will play a key role as a designated eraser between the tackles. If he is able to plug his assigned gaps as part of a group effort to stymie the Cowboys' rushing attack, the Vikings will force Mike McCarthy to put the game on Andy Dalton's shoulders as the veteran returns to action after a three-week layoff.
Offensive Strategy
The Vikings will attempt to punch the Cowboys in the mouth with a smash-mouth running game that revolves around Cook. The NFL rushing leader is an ideal fit in the team's zone scheme and the Cowboys must play with outstanding gap discipline to have any chance of slowing him down as a downhill runner. Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will complement the Vikings' outside zone scheme with a handful of play-passes that utilize similar initial action and a variety of misdirection routes to create explosive plays. If the Cowboys are sound with their communication and execution, the Vikings could finish with a 300-yard passer and a 100-yard rusher on Sunday.
