12-07-2017, 10:58 AM
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-vastl...462435153/
Rushing yards weren’t coming easy for the Vikings in Atlanta after halftime. But Latavius Murray’s 12th carry — the fifth of this surgically methodical drive — backed Falcons defenders’ heels to the edge of their own end zone.
Murray exploded off his left foot, cutting once to his right into the open field between right guard Joe Berger and right tackle Rashod Hill. The 7-yard gain might have been the easiest third-and-1 conversion of Murray’s career. It was the Vikings’ eighth handoff and 13th play of the game-winning drive, which spanned 8 minutes, 11 seconds.
“It wears them down,” Murray said. “I think it takes a little life out of them. That’s huge when we can flip the field like that. Not only flip the field, but put it in for a touchdown and kill some clock.”
That’s what a top-10 running game is doing for this Vikings offense. It’s what the Vikings didn’t have at all last season.
Minnesota’s turnaround in the running game — from dead last in 2016 to sixth this season (122.8 yards per game) — is not only impressive, it’s historical.
Not since Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk was drafted by the Colts in 1994 has an NFL team gone from the league’s worst run game to the top 10.
Rushing yards weren’t coming easy for the Vikings in Atlanta after halftime. But Latavius Murray’s 12th carry — the fifth of this surgically methodical drive — backed Falcons defenders’ heels to the edge of their own end zone.
Murray exploded off his left foot, cutting once to his right into the open field between right guard Joe Berger and right tackle Rashod Hill. The 7-yard gain might have been the easiest third-and-1 conversion of Murray’s career. It was the Vikings’ eighth handoff and 13th play of the game-winning drive, which spanned 8 minutes, 11 seconds.
“It wears them down,” Murray said. “I think it takes a little life out of them. That’s huge when we can flip the field like that. Not only flip the field, but put it in for a touchdown and kill some clock.”
That’s what a top-10 running game is doing for this Vikings offense. It’s what the Vikings didn’t have at all last season.
Minnesota’s turnaround in the running game — from dead last in 2016 to sixth this season (122.8 yards per game) — is not only impressive, it’s historical.
Not since Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk was drafted by the Colts in 1994 has an NFL team gone from the league’s worst run game to the top 10.
