3 keys to defeat the Falcons on weekdays 1

The Minnesota Vikings are one of 20 NFL teams hoping for a rebound season that will lead them into the playoffs. The journey begins against the Atlanta Falcons.

On paper, the Vikings have an alignment of talent, but that did not push them far last year. The team ended the 2018 season with an 8-7-1 record in Kirk Cousins' first season with the organization.

With him, the offensive has an arsenal of weapons including Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. You can not forget Kyle Rudolph and rookie Irv Smith in a tight position.

As for the defense, Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith are in the lead. Since Mike Zimmer became head coach in 2014, the Vikings are a defensive juggernaut.

This year, Minnesota hopes to land a divisional title in a competitive NFC North. The Vikings' trip to the playoffs begins Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons are very offensive with Matt Ryan in the center, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu away. Here are three keys for the Vikings to defeat the Falcons in Week 1 this Sunday.

3. Contain Julio Jones

During the first week, the Vikings will have the mission to slow down the attack of Julio Jones and Falcons. If Jones engages in a trough, Minnesota high school will be in a tough day.

It is expected that the Vikings would like to have Xavier Rhodes on Jones as often as possible. At the same time, Atlanta will probably move Jones to create imbalances on the ground.

The last time the Vikings faced Jones, they surprisingly closed at two receptions for 24 yards. It was two years ago and Jones is still one of the NFL's best smugglers.

2. Apply pressure on Matt Ryan

The Vikings can take control of this game if they manage to create pressure on Matt Ryan. If you put pressure on Matt Ryan, there is a good chance he does not have time to get the ball to Julio. Get two birds with a stone.

Pressuring Ryan is easier said than done against the new Falcons line of attack. Last season, Minnesota had 50 team bags (tied for third place in the NFL).

The Vikings form a dynamic duo consisting of Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen. These two players will have to be in mid-season form if they want to make a difference in this game. Most quarterbacks hate having to deal with the pressure and Ryan is no exception.

1. Balancing the offense

One of the reasons the Vikings fought for most of the 2018 season was that they failed to establish their hasty attack. While John DeFilippo was the offensive coordinator last year, they have absolutely abandoned their running game.

After sacking DeFilippo during the season, Kevin Stefanski assumed the role of offensive coordinator and did a better job using Dalvin Cook and Latavius ​​Murray in the field. Stefanski will have to adopt the same state of mind this season, starting in the first week.

It is understandable that the Vikings want to play 50 times per game with the Cousins ​​in the center and the plethora of pass-capture options they have. However, no team will win consistently without balancing the offensive to keep the defense on his heels.

Sunday's match can turn into a shootout. It therefore depends on the best striker to control the clock late in the game. Minnesota will want to win in the trenches and use Cook early and often.