The Minnesota Vikings hope to come out of their bye week with an improved offense. Entering Week 7, the Vikings' offense ranks 27th in total yards, tied for 24th in EPA/play, and 27th in DVOA. That's a stark contrast to a defense that ranks 1st in EPA/play and DVOA, and a special teams unit that also ranks 1st in DVOA.
But there is reason to believe Minnesota could come out of their bye week with an improved offensive attack. Kevin O'Connell told Paul Allen on Tuesday that he expects Jordan Mason, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Christian Darrisaw to return to practice Wednesday, giving them a good chance to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. So far, Kyler Murray has been on the field with Addison and Justin Jefferson for only 18 plays so far this season.
That lack of time together, along with Murray's adjustment to the offense, contributed to some of the unit's woes during the first five weeks. But they have an opportunity to come out of the gate hot against a Colts defense that ranks 24th in yards allowed and DVOA and is tied for 23rd in EPA/play allowed.
Here are three keys for the Vikings' offense when they face Indianapolis on Sunday.
Keys for the Vikings' offense in Week 7 against the Colts
Get explosive in the running game
Minnesota has leaned on a consistent but unspectacular run game through five games. With Mason out since Week 1, Aaron Jones has been used as the bell cow, running 85 times for 370 yards in those four games. Murray ran for 84 yards in that span, while DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne combined for nine carries and 23 yards.
With Mason back, the Vikings should hopefully be able to spell Jones some and break off more explosive runs coming out of the bye week. Minnesota is tied for 20th in 10+ yard runs (12) this season despite a 49.5% run rate.
Meanwhile, the Colts have allowed 4.8 yards per rush this season and rank last in EPA/run allowed. Although Indianapolis ranks 17th in 10+ yard runs allowed, their 12.3% stuff-rate ranks 30th in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. Seven of the Vikings' 10+ yard runs have come over the past two weeks, with their two highest rushing outputs coming in the same time.
Protect the interior of the pocket
Indianapolis enters this game with the league's worst QB pressure rate at 24.4%. Their two top pass-rushers are edge defender Laiatu Latu, who leads the team with 19 pressures (per Next Gen Stats), and DT DeForest Buckner, who has 16 pressures and a team-leading four sacks.
That likely pits Buckner up against Vikings guards Will Fries (10 pressures, two sacks allowed, per PFF) and Joe Huber (three pressures in 86 pass-rush snaps). Fries has a 52.1 pass-block grade this year, while Huber (46.5) will be making his third career start. If Minnesota can keep the interior clean, Murray should have plenty of time to find receivers downfield.
Get Jefferson the ball
For this offense to work best, Murray has to get Jefferson involved. Against the Saints in Week 5, Jefferson caught six of his seven targets for 79 yards, including a spectacular 15-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. It was one of two passes Murray threw that showed as much trust in the superstar receiver as the quarterback's arm talent.
Indianapolis' defense is tied for 21st in EPA/pass allowed, but they'll be without two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner in this game. Although Gardner hasn't been particularly effective through six games (11 receptions allowed on 18 targets, one TD, and a 123.6 passer rating), the Colts' cornerback room has been shaky outside of Charvarius Ward (nine receptions on 20 targets, 65.0 passer rating).
The defense's two interceptions came from S Cam Bynum and LB Jaylon Carlies. Slot CB Justin Walley has played 255 snaps but has allowed 25 receptions on 36 targets, including two touchdowns and a 116.3 passer rating. And although Cam Taylor-Britt has played only 64 snaps, he has given up four completions on five passes in coverage, allowing two touchdowns. Jefferson and the rest of the receiving corps could be in for a big day.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Keys for the Vikings' offense in Week 7 against the Colts