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The Minnesota Vikings can go into the bye week with their heads held high if they can win their game on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos haven't been having a good season and currently sit with a 3-6 record. Even though the record isn't good, this is a team that can beat the Vikings if the home squad doesn't bring their A-game.
So what's it going to take for the Vikings to come away with a victory? Let's look at the two key x-factors.
Vikings secondary
The last couple of years the Vikings secondary has been considered one of the best in football, but this year that hasn't been the case. On the season the Vikings are giving up 241.9 yards per game through the air which is 18th in the league.
Even though the Vikings won their last game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Vikings secondary was still terrible, allowing Dak Prescott to throw for 397 yards and three touchdowns.
The Broncos send out backup quarterback Brandon Allen in this game, making just his second career start. In his first start a couple weeks ago against the Browns, he looked comfortable and led the team to a victory.
If the Vikings want to win this game the secondary needs to not let him get comfortable. A couple of three and outs early in the game would go a long ways in the Vikings come away with a victory.
If Allen is allowed to sit in the pocket and make the easy throws, the Vikings could be in a lot of trouble in this game.
Kirk Cousins
This one seems pretty simple, but Kirk Cousins is going to be the biggest x-factor in this game. Cousins is playing some of the best football of his career and looks to have a ton of confidence.
Cousins at times, especially with the Vikings, has been inconsistent and they can't have the bad Cousins in this game if they want to win.
The Broncos defense is still one of the best of football giving up only 202.1 yards per game through the air. More than being dynamic in the passing game, Cousins needs to make the right throws at crucial times.
He also needs to make sure he isn't taking unnecessary risks and turning the ball over. If Cousins is strong, and the secondary steps up in this game, the Vikings should be heading into their bye week with a victory.
