NFL Analyst Shares Minnesota Vikings Clear Advantages over Indianapolis Colts

The Minnesota Vikings (5-0) cannot seem to stop winning. It does not look like that is in imminent danger of changing this week.

The Vikings face the Indianapolis Colts (2-4) who have had as many struggles as Minnesota has had success. The matchup, as you might imagine, favors the Vikings this week.

Athlon Sports' Bryce Lazenby identified a few clear advantages. One he noted started with the Vikings' dominant defense and its ability to get stops in the red zone.

"Minnesota allows 12.8 points per game, best in the NFL. Opponents have converted 22.2% of their third downs and scored touchdowns on 25% of their red zone trips, and the Vikings rank first in both, per Pro Football Reference.

Linebacker Blake Cashman is the engine, with 42 tackles, four tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits. Safety Josh Metellus has 30 tackles and three passes defensed. That is a bad matchup for a Colts offense that leaned on a five-field-goal game in Pittsburgh and kicked two more in the first half against the Titans."

Lazenby seems to think Aaron Jones could have a big day for the Vikings at running back as well. Here were some of his thoughts.

"Aaron Jones has 97 carries for 410 yards and two touchdowns, and Minnesota opened the practice window for Jordan Mason this week. We wrote that the ground attack should get stronger coming out of the bye.

That lines up with the Colts’ biggest defensive weakness. Indianapolis ranks last in EPA per rush allowed, the low point of a run defense under Lou Anarumo that gives up 4.8 yards per carry. Even DeForest Buckner, the team’s best pass rusher, carries a 45.3 run-defense grade from PFF, 95th among 129 interior defenders."

If Lazenby is right, the Colts are in trouble. A team that cannot score or stop the run tends to find itself on the wrong end of a lopsided matchup. Of course, Minnesota will have to get the ball in the end zone.

We are not that far removed from the Vikings making five field goals in a 15-10 victory over the unimpressive Miami Dolphins. Minnesota will have to find a way to take advantage of opportunities.

Any Sunday, any team can win on an NFL field. They're all professional football players. The Colts can pull off a surprise.

The Vikings, though, should carry plenty of confidence into the matchup. We'll keep an eye on how it unfolds.