Jonathan Gannon’s focus immediately changed once he left the field during last week’s loss to the Seahawks.
The Cardinals coach was aware of their impending opponent and surroundings, but he still had to cope with the fallout from their defeat and make plans to review and reorganize for the Monday meeting.
That’s why he stated in his interview the next day that he believes Minnesota is a more difficult place to play than Lumen Field’s hostile atmosphere.
It is housed in a dome. It’s noisy. Gannon declared, “It will be packed out.” “No Cardinals supporters will be present. There, they’ll all be Vikings supporters. It has a nice atmosphere and is a terrific spot to play. It will be difficult to play there.
Since Gannon and other staff members have coaching experience in Minnesota, their judgments are supported by facts. The Vikings’ exceptional team performance is another element that is undeniable.
Not many expected Sam Darnold to guide the Vikings to a 9-2 record after first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy tore his meniscus before the season. However, Darnold has adjusted well to the quarterback-friendly system under coach Kevin O’Connell.
Additionally, Darnold benefits from a strong supporting cast, with Aaron Jones in the running game and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson in the passing game.
“The quarterback is performing exceptionally well,” said Nick Rallis, the defensive coordinator. “There are playmakers all over the field.” They have a strong strategy, a quarterback that plays at a high level, and an attack that is well-balanced. There are several difficulties involved, and no matter what you strive to eliminate, tension will still be there in other areas.
With rookie first-rounder Darius Robinson and safety Jalen Thompson likely making their debuts on Sunday, Rallis might have some reinforcements available.
The Vikings’ defense stands out on the stat sheet, even though their offense has had some success. With just 75 yards allowed per game, Minnesota’s defense is the best in the league against the run.
After one of their least effective offensive performances of the season, the Cardinals have now reached this point. The Seattle game marked only the third time in Kyler Murray’s 76 career starts that the offense was shut out.
Running back James Conner said, “We need to establish the run early to get the offense flowing. Regardless of the noise, we have to execute, stay on the field, get into the red zone, and put points on the board.”
Under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Vikings excel at confusing quarterbacks and disguising their strategies. They rank among the top five teams in the league in terms of getting to the quarterback, with players like Jonathan Greenard recording nine sacks this season as a result.
Gannon emphasized that Sunday’s game will focus on fundamentals, as both teams are playing in a tough environment and are looking ahead to postseason play.
“We’ll have to approach this game differently than last week due to the opposing defense and scheme,” Gannon said. “We need to focus on the details, win the line of scrimmage, and get the run game going.”
