Stuffing Zach Wilson and the Jets offense is one factor. Taming Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense goes to be a wholly totally different problem for the Patriots.
With the web page already turned on Sunday’s 10-3 win over the Jets, the Patriots have only a few days to arrange for his or her Thanksgiving night time bout with the Vikings in Minnesota.
During a videoconference Monday, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spoke about what lies forward having to face Kirk Cousins and his arsenal.
The Patriots protection, which utterly shut down the Jets, holding them to only 103 complete yards, and 6 first downs, should take care of a number of explosive threats on the Vikings, led by wideout Justin Jefferson, working again Dalvin Cook, and tight finish T.J. Hockenson.
Jefferson is the NFL’s second main receiver behind Tyreek Hill with 72 catches for 1093 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Cook, who’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry, is a twin menace each working and catching the soccer. Hockenson simply arrived in a commerce from Detroit, and is already making his mark.
“They’ve got a wealth of talent at the skill positions,” mentioned Belichick. “There’s a lot of guys to stop. They’re as explosive as anyone we’ve seen.”
Save for the Tua Tagovailoa and the huge array of weapons the Pats confronted in opposition to Miami in Week 1, that is maybe the perfect group Belichick’s protection has needed to put together for since then.
The Cowboys, nevertheless, didn’t appear to have an excessive amount of bother corralling Cousins & Co. on Sunday.
After beating Buffalo Week 10 en path to profitable seven straight video games, the Vikings mainly turned in a stinker in opposition to Dallas, with the Cowboys whipping them 40-3.
The Patriots will little doubt take notes on how the Cowboys stopped Cousins, who was sacked seven occasions, and held to only 105 yards passing. Jefferson, who’s coping with turf toe, was held to 3 catches for 33 yards by the Cowboys.
It needs to be famous the Patriots, behind Matthew Judon, sit second behind the Cowboys relating to sacking the quarterback.
No doubt the Vikings will probably be seeking to defend Cousins higher and rebound in opposition to the Patriots on Thursday night time.
They’re 8-2 and the perfect group within the NFC North largely to the efforts of first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was a third-round draft decide of the Patriots in 2008 however spent just one season as Tom Brady’s backup.
O’Connell, who was let go after the arrival of Brian Hoyer in 2009, has gone on to have a productive teaching profession. He gained a Super Bowl ring final season serving because the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s done a heck of a job, climbed through the coaching ranks quickly, and based on the way the Vikings are playing this year, you can see why,” mentioned Belichick. “He’s done a great job.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com