The Minnesota Vikings, coming off a bad loss, head out east to visit the Baltimore Ravens in a NFC vs. AFC match-up. The Vikings will need to clean up some things if they want to take on a Ravens team that is coming off of their bye.

The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to consistently put points on the board for the whole game or even game to game. The line of scrimmage may be the key to every game the Vikings play with how much of a weakness it has become. Dalvin Cook needs to get more than 18 carries and the offensive line needs to do a better job at protecting Kirk Cousins.

On defense, everybody knows you have to stop Lamar Jackson but with the way he is playing this year you can only hope to limit the damage. Jackson is out rushing the Vikings top rusher in Dalvin Cook by 36 yards and is only trailing Cousins by 10 yards in the passing game. He is the key to Baltimore’s whole offense and everyone knows that but with receivers like Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Mark Andrews it makes sense. They combine for 1,082 of the 1,982 receiving yards by the entire team. That is over 54% of the total receiving yards.

Watching the three of Brown, Andrews and Jackson is the best way to limit Baltimore. The Vikings will need to be careful on every play because with Lamar Jackson always threatening wherever he is on the field the chance for someone to sneak behind the defense is that much more likely.

If the Minnesota Vikings are able to run their offense and protect Kirk Cousins and find out a way to limit Lamar Jackson and the explosive Ravens offense they may be able to grind out a victory but the offense might need to score some points to have a chance.