EAGAN, Minnesota — On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings will visit the Las Vegas Raiders and play a regular-season game at Allegiant Stadium for the first time in franchise history.
Both teams are coming off much-needed bye weeks in Week 13. The Vikings have won six of their twelve games this season despite missing numerous key players. However, reinforcements are on their way. After missing seven games due to a hamstring injury, star receiver Justin Jefferson will return.
The Vikings (6-6) and Raiders (5-7) are both battling for playoff positions in their respective conferences with five regular-season games remaining. They are two of 16 NFL clubs with records ranging from 7-5 to 5-7.
The game is scheduled to begin at 3:05 p.m. (C.T.).
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The Vikings will be dressed in their usual road attire, which include white jerseys and purple pants.
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Keeping Dobbs: The Vikings spent their bye week researching quarterback options. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell revealed on Wednesday that Joshua Dobbs will make his fourth start and participate in his fifth game with Minnesota since joining the organization via trade.
Minnesota intends to play to Dobbs’ strengths while integrating his skill set into the offense that has been developed since O’Connell’s arrival last season.
During the bye week, O’Connell said he spent one-on-one time with Dobbs rewatching the Bears game. Dobbs discussed his decision-making process, while O’Connell provided insight into why he called specific plays.
“Getting into the game all the way through, four quarters against the Bears the other night,” he remarked. “There was a lot of growth moments for him in those discussions and for me, as well.”
In his first two games with Minnesota, Dobbs was unstoppable. He spearheaded a game-winning drive against Atlanta and contributed 27 points in a home triumph over the Saints. Dobbs totaled 536 yards (passing and running) and four touchdowns in the two games.
The Vikings, on the other hand, have only scored 33 points in the last ten quarters under Dobbs. There is reason for optimism despite many costly turnovers in losses to the Broncos and Bears. The Vikings are still 12th in point differential and in the top half of the league in most efficiency categories (such as DOVA and EPA).
In addition, a crucial pass catcher is expected to return.Jefferson’s Return: After missing the previous seven games due to a hamstring injury suffered against the Chiefs in Week 5, star receiver Justin Jefferson is set to return. For the first time since October, Jefferson is anticipated to fully practice this week.
Jefferson was added to the Vikings’ 53-man roster on Tuesday.During Jefferson’s absence, Minnesota went 5-2 and used three different quarterbacks. However, his return signals yet another positive shift in the Vikings offensive. Though it will be Jefferson’s first time collecting passes from Dobbs in game action on Sunday, the two have connected in practice over the last several weeks as Jefferson has been ramping up.Since Week 6, pass catchers Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson have handled the majority of the Vikings’ receiving production. Jefferson averaged 114.2 yards per game and caught 36 of 53 targets prior to the injury.QB Aidan O’Connell (no related) vs. O’Connell: On Sunday, there will be two quarterbacks named O’Connell inside Allegiant Stadium. Both are taller than six feet and have experience assisting starting signal callers.
However, only Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell will launch an NFL pass on Sunday.
Following the sacking of former head coach Josh McDaniels, O’Connell was appointed the Raiders’ starter. He spent the first six weeks of this season as Jimmy Garoppolo’s backup. The fourth-round pick is one of ten rookies to start an NFL game this season. He’s won two of his five starts since McDaniels was fired.
O’Connell just had his most productive game as a Raider. Las Vegas was defeated 31-17 by the Chiefs, but O’Connell helped the Raiders go out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter
On their first two possessions, the Raiders scored touchdowns. O’Connell was 10-of-11 passing for 114 yards at one point. He finished with 248 yards, one touchdown, and a season-best passer rating of 101.6.
There are five games left: The Vikings are presently the No. 6 seed in the NFC, and if the playoffs began today, they would meet the Lions at Detroit. Three of the Vikings’ last five games are against NFC North opponentsMinnesota’s New Year’s Eve matchup against the Packers is wedged between games against the Lions in Weeks 16 and 18. Week 17 will almost certainly have significant playoff implications.However, Minnesota will strive to avoid being swept by AFC West opponents after losses to the Chargers in Week 3, the Chiefs in Week 5, and Denver in Week 11.Interim Head Coach: Antonio Pierce has been named the Raiders interim head coach for the past five weeks. Since then, Las Vegas is 2-2, with both victories coming against the New York Giants and Jets in consecutive weeks.
However, losses to the Dolphins in Miami and the Chiefs at home have put the Raiders on the outside looking in for the AFC Playoffs
Pierce, a nine-year NFL linebacker, has brought a new level of passion to the group.
Running with Josh Jacobs: Running back Josh Jacobs is rushing like an All-Pro again. Jacobs topped the league in running yards last season with 1,653, and his 220 attempts this season are a league best
Jacobs’ 2022 per-game average of 97.2 and per-carry average of 4.9 have dropped to 64.3 and 3.5, respectively, this season, but his numbers have increased since Pierce took over.
His running yards per game have increased from 51.0 to 90.8 since Week 9.
The explosive back is also among the top ten in rushing yards (771) and touchdowns (six).Influence of Maxx Crosby: The Vikings offensive line is preparing for another Pro Bowl talent this week. Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ defensive end, leads the team in sacks (11.5), tackles for loss (15), quarterback pressures (33) and quarterback hits (18). His high-energy style disrupts pass-protection and creates run-game havoc.
Crosby has the greatest run defense grade (91.5) of any edge rusher, according to Pro Football Focus. He also has the most solo tackles among edge rushers in the league (39).
Only once in franchise history has the Vikings’ bye week occurred later than this season (Week 14 in 1991). However, because that season began on September 1, the Sunday of that bye week was December 1.
As a result, this was the latest calendar Sunday (Dec. 3) that a Vikings bye has ever occurred.
Davante Adams, a Raiders receiver, is well-known among Vikings fans. No player had more touchdown receptions against Minnesota than Adams, who had 13 while with the Packers.
This season, Adams has 814 yards on 69 catches and is on pace for 1,152 yards, his lowest total since 2017 when he missed two games due to injury.He has at least 70 receiving yards in each of his last three games after only having three in the first nine games of the season.”We’ve been in a process of trying to provide him with clarity on what we’re doing offensively and then we’re learning a lot about each other as we go,” he said. “That’s why I enjoy having him here: his work ethic, spending so much time with him, getting to know him, and continuing to delve deeper into what helps him be the best version of himself.” That’s something I know we take pride in around here: assisting our players in doing so. So, conceptually, basically, what are we asking him to do in what situation or phase of the game? That’s where we can all continue to improve our capacity to help one another, but more importantly, Josh’s ability to help himself.- O’Connell on his decision to launch Dobbs
Former Raiders include Mullens (2022) and Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola (2018).
Ameer Abdullah (Raiders, 2018-21), Daniel Carlson (Kicker, 2018), and Marcus Epps (2019).
Kennedy Polamalu, the running backs coach in Las Vegas, and Scott Turner, the passing game coordinator, are both former Minnesota assistants.
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