How to Watch, Stream & Listen to Vikings at Ravens

EAGAN, Minn. – When onlookers tune in to Sunday’s Vikings game against the Ravens in Baltimore, Minnesota will try to extend its streak of opening with a score to seven contests.

They’ll also see an offense aiming to avoid dry spells that have proved problematic in losses.

Will it be an offense that opened aggressively against Dallas with early deep shots but didn’t attempt a pass 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage after its first two possessions?

The first deep throw by Kirk Cousins resulted in a 31-yard completion to Tyler Conklin during Minnesota’s opening touchdown drive. Another deep toss by Cousins during the possession didn’t count because of a penalty on Trevon Diggs. Cousins just missed connecting with Justin Jefferson on a deep ball and likely touchdown (Dallas cornerback Anthony Brown fell down and left Jefferson wide open) on Minnesota’s second possession.

Despite the early success, Cousins didn’t target anyone 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage the rest of the game as Minnesota’s offensive line struggled in protection.

Vikings Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak was asked Thursday about getting the ball down the field more often and said, “It’s a group effort, and it all falls on me at the end of the day.”

“Probably had some more opportunities to do so, but we didn’t hit them,” Kubiak said. “And then you [give it to] Dallas. They did a good job playing some shell coverage and taking some things away. But there’s always more opportunities to push the ball down the field.”

The number of opportunities to take deep shots could be impacted by the frequency with which Baltimore blitzes, but that doesn’t mean that big plays can’t happen.

The Ravens have allowed 1,200 yards after catches, the most in the NFL. Baltimore has allowed 15 completions of 20-plus yards in its two losses.

“I think they’re an aggressive defense, and they’re going to play a lot of man coverage, play a lot of defense with a safety in the middle of the field. So there should be opportunities [for yards after catch] there,” Kubiak said. “But our guys are always, each and every week we’re harping yards after catch, yards after contact. Our assistant coaches do a great job of that. We have to take advantage of those opportunities and protect the football.”