Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings is a crucial one to say the least. Both teams have playoff berths on the line, and both teams' playoff hopes could be severely hurt with a loss. Both these teams have met or exceeded expectations, as they are each 9-5. And both teams have star running backs, so this game will also affect fantasy football championships everywhere.
Keys to the game:
Burn 'em early with Turner. If the Atlanta Falcons are going to be successful, they're going to have to get the run game going early, which means a steady dose of Michael Turner. The Vikings' pass defense is tougher than it was a year ago, so the Falcons will have to run the ball well to open up the passing game for Matt Ryan.
Score early and often. It seems that when the Falcons score early, and often, they come out on top. If they let the Minnesota Vikings get a head start on them, Jared Allen and the rest of the Vikings' mean D-line is going to make life miserable for Matt Ryan.
Don't give up dumb scores. The Falcons have a knack for giving up touchdowns right before halftime. They did it again last week against Tampa Bay, and it almost cost them the game. This is something they simply cannot get away with against the Vikings, especially in a hostile environment.
Utilize the box. This means to stack 7 or 8 defenders in a box, so that Adrian Peterson(or Chester Taylor) has a hard time running the ball for 4+ yards each time he touches it. Also, if the stack 7 or 8 in the box, they can get more pressure on Tavaras Jackson, forcing him to make quick decisions, which we know he's not fond of. If they can do this on defense, the Vikings will be playing catch-up "All Day".
Keywords: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Football
