For their eight game of the season, the Vikings (1-6) limp on to Jerry World to play the Dallas Cowboys (4-4), who are just coming off an emotional last second loss to the Detroit Lions. The loss was especially noticeable because receiver Dez Bryant became extremely demonstrative on the sideline to quarterback Tony Romo, most likely about not receiving the ball enough because Dez wasn't highly involved in his offense while across the field Calvin Johnson was having one of the best days for a wide receiver in NFL history. Think Dez was even angrier after Dallas blew their lead and had to crawl back home in defeat? Expect Tony Romo to look Bryant's way a little bit more often in this game, which should scare plenty of Vikings' fans, because there's few catches that man cannot make. In terms of the Vikings, we've almost reached the "same old, same old" point to this season, where the same problems surface in each and every game to various degrees and it seems that at this point a turnaround just is not going to happen. It's tough to ever say a team is just playing for a draft pick, but the Vikings are playing for a draft pick before the halfway point in their season. It's 2011 all over again. As always, here's the big questions of both sides of the ball facing the Vikings as they travel into the heart of Dallas:
Offense
Why is Christian Ponder in this game?
This is the question that plenty of fans have to be asking themselves going into this game, as for the second week in a row the team has gone back to Christian Ponder as its starting quarterback rather than Josh Freeman or Matt Cassel. Freeman appears to be healthy, and if so it was assumed by many that he would start because at this point in the season all that's left to do is decided whether Freeman has a shot at being a long term answer or not. If they've already decided that Freeman isn't that guy, then why not put in Cassel, who has outplayed Ponder and at least given this team a win this season? Ponder struggled at home last week against an injured Packers' defense, and the organization no longer has any justifiable reason to start him, so why is he in this game?
Will Adrian Peterson get to actually carry the ball?
In the three games since the Vikings have come off the bye week, Adrian Peterson has been given the ball 36 times despite the Vikings starting three different quarterbacks in those games. The reigning MVP has only 150 yards during that span, and is now well off of his pace for 2,500 yards. Why is this happening? Certainly the Vikings have been behind recently, but this is a team that should pride itself on running the ball even when they're behind. Adrian Peterson is the best home run threat at running back in NFL history, he's still your most explosive player on offense. Feed this man the ball Musgrave, and I never thought I would have to argue for that.
Is there any hope the Vikings will be able to take advantage of the worst pass defense in the NFL?
The Cowboys are currently ranked 32nd in the NFL in passing yards per game, averaging giving up over 300 yards through the air in each of their contests. Is Christian Ponder man enough to step up and start slinging it all over these guys? Survey says: no.
Defense
Is stopping the run at least a possibility?
There weren't a lot of positives for the Vikings' defense last week, especially on third down, but at least they have the potential to face a more one-dimensional offense than they did last week. The Cowboys are currently dealing with an injury to running back DeMarco Murray, and they have struggled to run the ball in his absence. In their last two games, the Cowboys are averaging only 68 rushing yards on a 2.6 yards per carry average. If the defensive line can step up and force the Cowboys to abandon the run early, at least they might have a shot to pin their ears back and rush the passer and cover. It could certainly force the Cowboys into more 3rd and longs, and quarterbacks not named Aaron Rodgers tend to struggle with those.
Can the defense get Tony Romo to look away from Dez?
There's no doubt that Tony Romo is going to want to look Dez Bryant's way against the Vikings, as the wide receiver has an unbelievable knack for making tough catches. Luckily for the Vikings though, Romo tends to shy on the conservative side of things so it is possible to take Bryant out of a game, or at least minimize his impact. Last week against the Lions Romo almost always looked away from Dez when he was double covered, even though Dez has the ability to grab the ball in traffic, instead targeting rookie Terrance Williams ten times. Since Williams was often Romo's second or third read, Romo's accuracy to the rookie was often subpar and the rookie hauled in only two of those targets, which led to a lack of offense for the Cowboys for most of the first half. If the Vikings are able to employ a similar strategy, they just might gives themselves a chance to win if Romo hasn't learned his lesson.
Is Alan Williams able to adjust his system?
Alan Williams spoke out at a press conference this week, defending his system and suggesting the problems on defense are merely tied to execution. If so, Williams is going to need to make some adjustments, because whatever he is asking these guys to execute they're not doing. They don't seem capable of it. Williams need to start scrapping his system and just find ways to get his personnel into favorable match-ups on the field to just help them be successful. Williams is often having his cornerbacks play off, even though both Cook and Rhodes excel in press man coverage and struggle in zone (that was one of the main criticisms of Rhodes pre-draft). Putting Chad Greenway on the Packers' only proven receiver last week was not putting defensive players in a good position to be successful, and it resulted in a long touchdown catch for Jordy Nelson. Williams can defend his system all he wants, but what he has written on paper isn't winning football games.
Coaching
I feel like I've gone after the coaching staff enough in this piece already, so I'll let them be for now. Do you think Williams is defending his system in the hopes of getting another coordinator gig next year? That might not be in the cards, sorry to say.
Final Prediction: 30-14 Cowboys
Good news, it'll all be half over after Sunday.
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