From the Minnesota Vikings’ dramatic 33-30 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills to their 34-23 loss to the Detroit Lions, Ed Donatell’s defense was historically bad in total yards allowed. After that five-game stretch, Kevin O’Connell went on the record saying that Donatell’s job was secure. However, he noted that he wants to see some defensive adjustments ahead of their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
We got a glimpse of that in Minnesota’s epic comeback win against the Colts. The Vikings had their highest blitz rate of the season against Indy and played more man coverage, which is a far cry from the soft shell coverages Donatell typically likes to call. You gotta give credit where it’s due; the Vikings wouldn’t have won last week without Donatell’s defensive adjustments.
However, the New York Giants are a talented and well-coached team with playoff aspirations, and Minnesota’s margin for error will be much lower. So, in preparation for this week’s game, the coaching staff would be wise to do some self-scouting and see how the defense handled the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense, which follows many of the same principles as the Giants do.
The Giants’ run game, featuring Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, is a slightly less intimidating version of Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders. Jones is nowhere near the talent level of Hurts, but Barkley is far superior to Sanders. Similarly to the Eagles, the Giants also run many designed QB runs, more than most of the teams the Vikings have played this year.
Another cause for concern is the Giants’ West Coast-style offense. Brian Daboll likes getting the ball out of Jones’ hands in a hurry and uses the quick-passing game as an extension of the run game. What New York lacks in star power at wide receiver, they make up for with their scrappiness. Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins didn’t light up the stat sheet, but they made plays when necessary.
In Week 9, the Washington Commanders did a good job of slowing down Jones and Barkley. Jones only averaged five yards through the air and 3.5 yards per carry. Barkley rushed for 87 yards, but it took him 18 carries to do it. Not a bad performance by Barkley. Still, it wasn’t amazing, either. The Commanders’ defense did its part in slowing down the Giants’ offense.
Not only that, but they also provided a blueprint that the Vikings can use this week. Play press man coverage and use base personnel. Jones can make those short to intermediate throws, but he isn’t the greatest deep-ball passer. Playing press man is basically challenging Jones to throw it deep. The Vikings should have faith in Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley to win their one-on-one battles against New York’s wide receivers. Playing a base 3-4 defense rather than nickel would also be more effective in stopping the run game.
It can’t be understated how important this game is. The Vikings will likely play the Giants or the Lions in the wild card round. This game is about asserting dominance over a potential playoff opponent. Many people question Minnesota’s legitimacy as contenders, and losing to the Giants would give New York a confidence boost entering the playoffs.
Consider the Vikings’ playoff history against the New Orleans Saints under Mike Zimmer. Minnesota would consistently beat the Saints, even if New Orleans was the more talented team. Often, the playoffs are about how well you matchup with your opponent. The Vikings tend to play poorly against mobile quarterbacks, making the Giants a dangerous team in the playoffs, especially if Donatell can’t figure out a way to limit Jones’ effectiveness as a runner.
This week is an opportunity for Donatell and the defense to show that they can learn from his mistakes. He talked a lot this offseason about how being around young leaders invigorates him and how he embraces change in the NFL. Now Donatell needs to deliver on that premise. If the Vikings don’t adapt defensively, they will make the same mistakes in the playoffs.
