This game has so much riding on it and it is still early. The importance of building self-confidence is huge by getting a second road win and more importantly against an NFC team if in the event a tie breaker needed.
Las Vegas does have Washington favored by 2.5 points.
The referee for the game will be Tony Corrente. He got the job of being a ref in 1998 after he had been a back judge to start his career in 1995. Tony was the ref in the 2001 NFC Championship game in which the Vikings lost to the New York Giants 41-0. The other fact about Tony is he is a high school Social Studies teacher in the off season.
The Vikings defense as we know has been the talk of the national media. Ron Jaworski was on Mike and Mike this week and had nothing but praise for the defense. I have waited so long to hear such nice things said about this young u and coming hustling defense.
Washington’s offense has some statsthat should open the Vikings ears. The Redskins are last in 3rd down efficiency. They are 14-60 working out to a 23.3 completion rate. The other interesting fact I found in regards to the third down is the Redskins are 0-9 on 3rd and 2 or 3 to go.
The Redskins offense is run heavy with big numbers in fact they are in the top 10 in 5 categories. They are 7th in attempts, 4th in rushing yards and yards per game. They are 3rd with a 5.1 every time they carry the ball. They are 3rd with 8 rushing touchdowns. The other fascinating number is Washington is 2nd with 29 runs of at least 10 yards.
These numbers are exciting for me to see just how the Vikings defense does. The Vikings have not allowed a rushing touchdown to an opposing running back. They have allowed 1 rushing touchdown and that was to Detroit’s quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
The other exciting stat for me is the Vikings are number two in the league in only giving up 3.2 yards per carry and 6th in the NFL in only giving up 78 yards per game.
The Vikings have faced five pocket passing quarterback in Gabbert (Jaguars), Luck (Colts) Smith (49ers), Stafford (Lions) and last week Hasselback (Titans). This week the Vikings will face a true test in the man known as RGIII. He is averaging 5.7 yards per rush and is also has the highest completion rate with 69.1 percent. I really believe Jared Allen and Brian Robinson are going to really have to be careful in not to let this man get outside. I believe these men already know it and be disciplined and stay in their lanes.
The Vikings have shut down power houses like Frank Gore, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and even Lions’ receiver Calvin Johnson.
The way the defense has played as a team I see no worry as not to be able to stop the number 2 overall draft in Robert Griffin III.
The Redskins are averaging scoring 28 points a game and the Vikings defense is yielding only 16 points a game. The Redskins are giving up 30 points a game. I am such a believer in the Vikings and their defensive effort thus far. The credit to Alan Williams, defensive coordinator and what he has done thus far should be co MVP candidate along with Percy Harvin. The rotating of the defensive line seems to be really working as the players are able to finish the game string like they started.
I remember back to Training camp when the change was made to have the afternoon practice in pads and how hot it was. Coach Frazier had mentioned he wanted to get the players in better conditioned and so far the plan has worked to perfection. I applaud Coach for sticking to his plan.
Reminder Blair Walsh will kick outdoors for the first time this season. He has had great success in touchbacks but when not the team is giving up some big returns at some bad times. The Redskins have a very speedy return man in Brandon Banks so we will need to keep an eye on how the Vikings contain him.
The 49ers game I predicted the Vikes would win 24-20 and they won 24-13. The Tennessee game I called for a Vikings victory 31-10 and the game wound up 30-7. The Monday game last Monday with New York Jets and Houston I had to pick a total point of the game for a tie breaker. I picked 41 and the game ended with a total of 40. I will now say based on the stats the Vikings will win 30-16 moving the record to 5-1.
Coach Frazier has beat Washington Coach Mike Shanahan once already in 2012 in the College Senior Bowl. These were the 2 coaches of the squads. Frazier’s team won 23-13. The 2 victories as Vikings coach over Washington and now the college experience gives me much to be optimistic about.
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
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