Week one preview: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

To say the preseason was “adverse” for the Vikings and their fans would be the equivalent of describing the Vietnam War as “gross.” Younger readers will have zero clue about the Cheers reference, but what do they know.

The Vikings begin the season by travelling to Tennessee to face the allegedly much improved Titans, lead by second year quarterback Marcus Mariota. The game can be viewed on FOX at noon on Sunday, September 11th.

The biggest question on everyone’s minds will be if newly acquired quarterback, Sam Bradford, sees the field. Regardless of who is the quarterback for the Vikings, the offensive line needs to protect the quarterback much better than they did in the preseason.

AROUND COVER32

Vikings Weekly: Bridgewater source of hope and inspiration

Vikings Today: Know your enemy Los Angeles Rams

Vike’s Bite: What to expect from the Vikings without Bridgewater

Purple Update: Vikings bid farewell to center John Sullivan

Vikings32 Exclusive: Vikings’ preseason week three reaction

What’s Trending: Vikings trade for Bradford to replace Bridgewater

What to expect

Expect plenty of handoffs in this battle. Both teams will rely on their running game with two of the best projected run games in the NFL. Vikings’ fans know what they have in Adrian Peterson; while the Titans are hoping for a huge year from their two-headed monster consisting of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry.

The last time the two teams faced off in the regular season was in 2012 but have faced off in each of the past 3 preseasons prior to this year. The 2015 preseason meeting turned out to be Mike Zimmer’s only preseason loss in his three seasons as head coach of the Vikings. Fans can fully expect Zimmer to remember that loss as he has proven to have a great memory when it comes to failure.

Conventional wisdom would suggest Bradford sits this one out while he gets acclimated to the offense and start backup quarterback Shaun Hill. Hill had success against a brutal Seahawks’ attack when he started the second preseason game. Most of Hill’s success came from using the spread offense and quick-hitting passes; look for the Vikings to replicate the pace from that game.

Essentials to win the game

Simply enough, the Vikings will need to win the turnover battle. The Titans gave the ball away 33 times in 2015; good enough for dead last in the NFL. Mariota has the tendency to fumble when under duress, hence the Vikings need to pressure him and force him to make the mistakes he is prone to.

If the Vikings want to have success in this game and the season, the offensive line will need to keep a clean pocket for Hill. Hill can make the throws and makes good decisions, but he will need time to make those decisions.

Possible downfalls to avoid

Simply put, coming out flat ala 2015 versus San Francisco is the biggest downfall to avoid. The NFL is all about momentum and if the Vikings hope for any type of playoff berth this season, this is a must win game. Historical wisdom points towards Zimmer having his boys ready for this one, especially the defense.

Speaking of which, awarded the tall task of containing the Titans’ triple threat running attack is the Vikings’ defense. They showed very little in the preseason to ensure fans they have the ability to completely shut down the running game of the Titans. However, if they can limit the gashing gains and keep the them out of the endzone, the big boys up front should be able to get to Mariota.

Player spotlight

The task of handling Linval Joseph, Sharrif Floyd, Sebastian Thunderbucket (Tom Johnson) and Shamar Stephen will fall on Titans’ offensive line; lead by center, Ben Jones. Jones was acquired by the Titans this offseason to solidify an atrocious offensive line with his experience.

Teams rarely rebuild the way the Titans are hoping to without getting production out of their rookies. The Titans presumably will have rookies Jack Conklin(OT), Tajae Sharpe(WR) and Kevin Dodd(OLB) in addition to promising running back, Derrick Henry on the field in some capacity on Sunday. Rookie Kevin Byard(FS) is slotted as the punt returner for opening day as well.

The Vikings are hoping the resurgence of Charles Johnson, coupled with the return of Rhett Ellison, will take the pressure off Shaun Hill to hit Stefon Diggs. Adam Thielen made some nice plays this preseason and should be watched closely by the fanbase as well. The Vikings’ first-round-pick Laquon Treadwell will play in his first regular season game and showed good rapport with Hill in the preseason. Look for the receiving group to make the most of their opportunities as they figure to be limited with the offense leaning on the the running game and Adrian Peterson. Peterson should see the majority of the work as the backbone of the Vikings’ offense.

Game projection

If the third preseason game is any indication, the Titans’ offense could be a handful for the Vikings on Sunday. The Titans will look to start fast by running the ball and using Mariota’s quickness to get to the sidelines. If Joseph and Floyd falter against the Titans’ running attack, Mariota’s receivers will find success using play-action.

Mariota has been developing great rapport with newly acquired receivers Andre Johnson and Rishard Matthews. Johnson has been the red zone threat Dorial Green-Beckham was supposed to be last season for Mariota. Should the Vikings allow the Titans in the red zone, they will need to give up field goal attempts as opposed to touchdowns.

The Vikings will try to spread the Titans’ 3-4 defense out much like they did to the Seahawks in the second game of the preseason. If Hill can start out fast much like he did against the stout Seattle defense, Peterson should find more room to run as well. The Vikings’ offensive quickness will be on full display as Thielen, Johnson and Diggs will provide the Titans’s secondary with more than full hands.

This game will be a great test for each team’s offenses as both sputtered in 2015. Whoever can control the clock with the running game and hold onto the ball, will win this one. Both defenses are prone to blitzing regardless of the score but even more so with a lead. A seven-point deficit against these pressing defenses can easily turn into 10 or 14 no quicker than the blink of an eye.

The Titans only managed to win three games last season, one of which was a week one thumping of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings only lost five games in 2015, one of which was the season opener on the road in San Francisco. Both teams’ seasons may rest on how well they are able to start in this week one matchup.

The Titans will start out fast but fail to score touchdowns and that will ultimately be their undoing. Peterson and Jerick McKinnon will combine for just enough of a rushing attack to shore up a lead given by a defensive score. Vegas is favoring the Vikings by only 1.5 right now but will start the season with a much needed 27-23 victory, after giving up a meaningless last minute score.

Justin Ekstrom can be followed on Twitter @thesportscrib21 and be sure to follow and comment on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Week one preview: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans appeared first on Cover32.