EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota made life tough for Dallas quarterback Tony Romo last Sunday, sacking him six times in its 34-3 victory over the Cowboys.
The Vikings’ next opponent has been sacked six times in his past six games. Indeed, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees went down only 20 times all season -- a combination of his quick release and opponents’ fear of blitzing him.
Opponents blitzed him on only 25 percent of his throws this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. And on those plays, Brees ranked second in the NFL with a passer rating of 111.8.
It doesn’t make intuitive sense to let a quarterback like Brees sit in the pocket, but the Vikings will blitz at their own peril. That’s why cornerback Antoine Winfield’s words Thursday have never rung truer.
“The key matchup of this game,” Winfield said, “is going to be our [defensive line] against their offensive line.”
The Vikings have been practicing this week without defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. (I’ll update their Thursday status a bit later.) Independent of their situations, however, the Vikings know they’re more likely to impact Brees’ performance in ways other than actual sacks.
“You just have to plug away,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “Bat-downs are as good as sacks. [Or] if you can get him off his spot, force incomplete passes, pressure [him]. ... He gets that ball out so quick that it’s tough to get to him, but you’ve just got to keep plugging away. If you win the game, you’re successful. If you don’t, you’re not.”
The Vikings’ next opponent has been sacked six times in his past six games. Indeed, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees went down only 20 times all season -- a combination of his quick release and opponents’ fear of blitzing him.
Opponents blitzed him on only 25 percent of his throws this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. And on those plays, Brees ranked second in the NFL with a passer rating of 111.8.
It doesn’t make intuitive sense to let a quarterback like Brees sit in the pocket, but the Vikings will blitz at their own peril. That’s why cornerback Antoine Winfield’s words Thursday have never rung truer.
“The key matchup of this game,” Winfield said, “is going to be our [defensive line] against their offensive line.”
The Vikings have been practicing this week without defensive tackle Kevin Williams and defensive end Ray Edwards, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. (I’ll update their Thursday status a bit later.) Independent of their situations, however, the Vikings know they’re more likely to impact Brees’ performance in ways other than actual sacks.
“You just have to plug away,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “Bat-downs are as good as sacks. [Or] if you can get him off his spot, force incomplete passes, pressure [him]. ... He gets that ball out so quick that it’s tough to get to him, but you’ve just got to keep plugging away. If you win the game, you’re successful. If you don’t, you’re not.”
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
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