Oakland Raiders Week 10 Primer: Purple People Eater Beaters
Nov 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) runs for a touchdown during the third quarter against the St. Louis Rams at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Rams 21-18. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Purple People Eater Beaters
The Vikings are another talented football team that the Raiders have to face. Their record is 6-2, and they have won several very close games. Since i spent as much time as I did focused on coverages, suffice it to say that the Raiders can do a good enough job on the Viking receivers if they can play with two deep safeties. TJ Carrie is expected to play and is not on the injury report which means the Raiders are in a good place to defend the pass.
Adrian Peterson is still the motor that powers the Viking offense. He has done an incredible job creating space for himself since his offensive line has done a below average job blocking for him. With that in mind, the Raiders should look to control the line of scrimmage with five men, one of them likely Mack, given the option to attack or track a running back out of the backfield. Lost in the result last week was the fact the Raiders actually did a decent job against the run until late into the third quarter. Until Williams’ big run the Raiders held him to 3 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Raiders matchup pretty well against the Vikings. The receivers are young and have talent, but they are not nearly on the scale of what Pittsburgh offered. Teddy Bridgewater has been up and down this season and his worst games have come when he is taken off his spot by pressure. The Raider linebackers will have to respect the playaction pass and most likely keep someone in as a spy to prevent against Teddy’s ability to run the ball. Expect the Raiders to mix up coverages regularly to confuse Bridgewater.
On offense, the Raiders have a system to defeat blitz based defenses. First, spread them out. By going to multiple receiver shotgun sets, the Raiders will expose where the blitz is coming from and simplify the reads for both Carr and the offensive line. Secondly, the Raiders must set up the defensive backs with short routes.
Minnesota has a solid young cornerback in Xavier Rhodes, but he struggles with crisp route runners like Cooper. Harrison Smith is having one of the best season for a safety and is a top notch defender, but the other two defensive back spots are seriously lacking. Setting up this group with short passes then going deep on them especially along the hashmarks will expose favorable matchups.
Lastly, the Raider offense needs to help Bergstrom. With Rodney Hudson doubtful with an ankle injury, the Raiders will be starting Tony Bergstrom at center most likely. In 16 snaps against the Steelers, Bergstrom played fairly decently coping wth some heavy interior blitzing. Linvall Joseph, the Viking nose tackle, is having a very good season and in order to limit his impact the Raiders can by formation dictate his alignment over Gabe Jackson who would matchup against him very well.
The Raiders could then have Webb blocking a three technique which as a former tackle is a decent matchup for him. That allow Bergstrom to help on doubles on either side. I would also expect we see a running back in the backfield for the Raiders to block and more four route concepts.
When you put it all together, this should be a very good game between two very solid football teams. The Vikings who are 6-2 have played one of the league’s easiest schedules in the first eight games. The Raiders have an opportunity to solidify their spot as a playoff contender by beating the Vikes. There is a lot on the line for both teams, but the Raiders have a significant home field advantage.
Prediction
Vikings 20 Raiders 27
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