There are some good key matchups Sunday for the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.
Since this is Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season, that means for the Houston Texans they will be hosting the Minnesota Vikings in their second home game at NRG Stadium this season.
The Texans didn’t win on their home field in their one game there back in Week 2, but this is a much better opportunity for a win by facing the Minnesota Vikings, rather than the Week 2 opponent, which was the Baltimore Ravens.
Looking at the Vikings’ roster, they do bring some talented players to the field, and just like the Houston Texans, Minnesota is 0-3 entering the game, and they too are looking to earn their first win of the season.
It is tough to tell what this game will bring for the Texans because the offense this season has been off their game, to say the least. They haven’t been on the field long enough to gain much success for most of the season, leading to the defense being on the field too much.
Minnesota is having the same sort of issues with their offense being on the field less than the Houston Texans offense, which leads one to wonder: what exactly is going to give this week? Whose offense can finally break the poor pattern of play and put together successful drives on a consistent basis?
That brings us to the following part of the Week 4 game which will be of great importance, and that is what are some of the key matchups between the Texans and the Vikings?
Next is a look at three matchups that should take place this Sunday, which will be a key to victory for either the Houston Texans or the Minnesota Vikings, depending on who wins the matchup.
3. Will Fuller vs. Vikings cornerbacks
Minnesota starting cornerback Mike Hughes has been ruled out of the game for the Vikings, so that means either Holton Hill or rookie Cameron Dantzler (has missed past two games) will most likely draw coverage for Will Fuller of the Houston Texans in Week 4 on Sunday.
This is an excellent opportunity for the duo of Deshaun Watson and Fuller to really take advantage of a weakness in the secondary of the Vikings, and to finally have their breakout game as a duo this season.
Thus far in 2020, Fuller has 12 receptions in three games, but had zero against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Fuller also has collected 166 yards receiving with one touchdown, which the TD came last Sunday in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the Vikings down one of their best defensive backs this week (Hughes is battling a neck injury), Fuller must be the main focus of the Houston offense this week. That focus needs to start from the very first play of the game when the Texans are on offense.
Fuller has all of the ability in the world to be a success and threat for the Houston Texans, but he needs to have as many chances as possible to force the Vikings defense into miscues. With his speed, if Fuller does that, he’s in for a very strong day against the Minnesota secondary. Watch out for Minnesota safeties Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris to lend a helping hand on Fuller, because he could be in store for a huge game.
2. Dalvin Cook vs. Houston rush defense
In three games this season, the defense of the Houston Texans has allowed 565 rushing yards on 109 carries, for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Houston’s defense also has allowed three rushing touchdowns this season, so an average of one per game isn’t horrible in that aspect. The issue for the defense is they have been on the field way too much this season, and that cannot happen in Week 4, or it will result in a start of 0-4.
One of the main reasons the Houston Texans defense needs to stay off the field is the fact the Minnesota Vikings have Dalvin Cook, and the word on the street is… he’s one of the very best running backs in all of the NFL.
Cook this season has 294 yards rushing on 48 carries (6.1 yards per carry) and he’s averaging 98 yards per game. Add that with his four rushing touchdowns this season, and that means the Houston Texans have a tough task ahead of them when facing Cook in Week 4.
It is tough to say what will happen with this matchup because the Vikings’ offensive line is apparently making the blocks for their star running back. If the defense of the Houston Texans is forced to be on the field as much as they have in the first three games this season, it is going to be another tough outing, with some of that blame going elsewhere on the team.
The way the Texans win this battle is by not only playing hard and forcing some three-and-outs, but the offense of the Texans needs to maintain drives to give the defense more breaks in action, and that also keeps Cook off the the field as much as possible.
1. Bradley Roby/Vernon Hargreaves III vs. Adam Thielen/Justin Jefferson
The two star wide receivers of the Minnesota Vikings have put up some impressive numbers this season through the first three weeks with Adam Thielen having 12 receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns, all while averaging 14.2 yards per reception with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback.
His teammate, Justin Jefferson, also has 12 receptions this season for 245 yards with one touchdown catch. Jefferson is averaging 20.4 yards per reception, with a season-best 71-yard reception, and don’t forget he’s only a rookie.
This will be a tough task for the Houston Texans to stop — or at least slow down — on Sunday, but they will have the cornerback duo of Bradley Roby and Vernon Hargreaves III doing their best and doing what they are hired to do, and that is dominate the opposing wide receivers each week.
Roby has a PFF grade this season of 57.9 as he’s been targeted 14 times, allowing 10 receptions in three games. Hargreaves III in three games has a PFF grade of 48.8 as he’s allowed 12 receptions on 18 targets
Roby might be paired up with Thielen, and if so, that could be a very interesting battle with the two talented players. The Houston Texans do need to stop Thielen on Sunday. If Thielen gains momentum, the Vikings offense become extremely dangerous, as there will also be added focus on Jefferson, and most likely Dalvin Cook as well.
This matchup won’t be a walk in the park for the Houston Texans on Sunday, but if they can just slow down the potential the Minnesota offense has with these two receivers, that will make the day so much more successful, but that is much easier said than done.