Brian O’Neill chuckled when asked the main reason why the Vikings offense had minimized sacks on Kirk Cousins to one or none in five of the team’s first eight games.
Another offseason of reinforcements led to two new starters, but O’Neill got to the root in a balanced playbook that moved Cousins out of the pocket — “I’m really appreciative of [coaches]. They’re not just going to make us sit back there and catch somebody 75 times a game or let them tee off, you know? They’re putting us in great spots.”
While the talent gap remains large between the Vikings offensive line and the NFC’s best defensive lines, evident in losses to the 49ers, Packers and Bears, the latest playbook shift proved a workable foundation.