Four thousand miles is a long way to travel for a trap game, yet the Vikings are off to London with something to gain and so much to lose against the perpetually hapless Cleveland Browns.
Must-win sounds ludicrous with Minnesota, on a three-game winning streak, about to play a team that has lost 32 of its past 34 games, a futility stretch matched by only two other teams since World War II. Feed all the statistics and variables into a supercomputer and it will churn out a Vikings victory each time.
Forget about jet lag, modified sleep patterns and limited caffeine intake; the only thing standing between the Vikings and a 6-2 record entering the bye is the Vikings.
Four years ago, the Browns upset Minnesota at the Metrodome, quarterback Christian Ponder injured his ribs and the 0-3 Vikings were forced to cross the Atlantic. They still managed to defeat the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers behind backup Matt Cassel at Wembley Stadium en route to a 5-10-1 pratfall that finished coach Leslie Frazier.
A loss to the 0-7 Browns would create a mutiny among cautiously optimistic fans waiting to see when the quarterback carousel stops spinning and who among Case Keenum, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater will be the last one standing.
Keenum is in line for his sixth start with the Vikings. He is 4-2, which includes a second-half relief win Week 5 at Chicago when a hobbled Bradford started but could not finish the game that sparked Minnesota’s win streak.
Trolling the Browns is recreational sport, but Keenum was wise enough Wednesday to toss bouquets at Cleveland’s feet as he prepares a return to Twickenham Stadium. Last year, he threw four interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams in a 17-10 loss to the New York Giants in London.
“We’ve got enough veterans in this room to know that every week in this league is so important, and everyone in this league is really, really good,” Keenum said. “You can’t compare wins and losses. Anybody can beat anybody. You have to come out and be your best.”
No one thought the Vikings would go from 5-0 to 8-8 last season, but when the mirrors cracked and the smoke finally dissipated, what remained was a battered offensive line that failed to protect Bradford, and an overtaxed defense that could not hold it all together after the leaves fell from the trees.
This year’s team has proven to be much more balanced and humble.
“I like their attitude,” coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday. “I like the way they go about their business. It’s a long season. I don’t think we’ve won anything yet. I think maybe this team understands from last year’s experience that just because you start out good doesn’t mean you’re going to end good.”
Steeled by injuries instead of crippled by them, the Vikings have weathered the season-ending demise of running back Dalvin Cook, the uncertain future of Bradford and two games without playmaking receiver Stefon Diggs.
The Vikings have a viable running attack with Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray to complement its modest but productive passing game. Keenum was erratic against Baltimore, but he makes prudent decisions and protects the football. Moreover, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has concocted a working formula to leverage Keenum’s mobility and quick-release skills to open up the field and create coverage mismatches.
“Pat has a good feel, obviously, with all the quarterbacks, but with Case he’s able to help him at times by settling him down and at times pick him up,” Zimmer said. “Yeah, I think he’s done good.”
Meanwhile, we are scrambling for superlatives to describe the defense, which should be salivating at the prospect of bull-rushing oft-benched rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer. Plus, Everson Griffen won’t have Browns left tackle Joe Thomas to contend with after the 10-time Pro Bowler and 10,363-consecutive snap stalwart was lost to a triceps injury.
As long as Keenum, et al, can sustain scoring drives and the defense remains stingy on third down, the Vikings are positioned well to ride complimentary football into January.
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http://www.twincities.com/2017/10/25/brian-murphy-vikings-leave-for-london-with-much-on-the-line/
