Rams vs Vikings: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 4...

Rams vs. Vikings: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 4

Cameron DaSilva

[theramswire.usatoday.com]


The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings will meet on a short week Thursday night with each team heading in opposite directions. The Vikings haven’t won either of their last two games, going 0-1-1 in that span, while the Rams are almost unanimously viewed as the best team in the NFL at 3-0.



Thursday will be a pivotal matchup for both, though, as they look to establish themselves among the favorites to win the NFC. Here are four key matchups to watch.

Rams CBs vs. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs

Aqib Talib definitely won’t play against the Vikings and Marcus Peters’ status remains up in the air, which could leave the Rams down their top two corners. If that’s the case, Sam Shields, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill will be the starters on Thursday night. Against a team that might have the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, that’s obviously not a good sign.

Having Peters would be a huge plus, but he’ll be a game day decision and fans shouldn’t hold their breath. If Shields, Hill and Robey-Coleman can’t contain Diggs and Thielen, it’s going to be a long day for the defense.

Kirk Cousins isn’t afraid to throw it 40 times a game and those two receivers are his favorite targets more often than not. The Rams’ backups have to step up this week in the event that Peters can’t play.

Brandin Cooks vs. Xavier Rhodes

Rhodes typically follows No. 1 receivers around the field, but with so much talent in L.A.’s receiving corps, it remains to be seen if that’ll be the case this week. He could potentially match up with Robert Woods, but Cooks is the biggest threat for the Rams.

This is a marquee matchup between an elite cornerback and a wide receiver who can run every route in the tree. Rhodes will have his hands full with Cooks on the outside, but Harrison Smith could provide some help over the top, as well.

Cooks has been the Rams’ top receiver thus far, hauling in 19 passes for 336 yards with no touchdowns. If he can win this matchup on Thursday night, it’ll open up things for the rest of the receivers because the Vikings will have no choice but to give Rhodes some safety help.

Ndamukong Suh vs. Pat Elflein


Elflein missed the first two weeks of the season as he recovered from ankle and shoulder surgeries, but he returned to action as a backup in Week 3. Mike Zimmer announced Tuesday that Elflein will get the start at center against the Rams, which is a big boost for the Vikings.

Minnesota’s offensive line has been shaky thus far, so any semblance of help it can get will go a long way. Elflein, the team’s third-round pick last year, has the potential to become one of the better centers in the league, but he’ll have to show that against a premier interior defender in Suh.

Suh will provide Elflein with a great test, as will Aaron Donald on stunts and other defensive alignments. Suh can rush from anywhere on the line, but he primarily plays nose tackle right over the center. That’s not a spot any offensive lineman wants to think about before a game, given Suh’s strength, speed and quickness. Cousins could find Elflein in his lap quite a few times Thursday.

Rob Havenstein vs. Danielle Hunter


Hunter leads the Vikings with three sacks on the year, and with Everson Griffen out, he’s by far their best pass rusher. Primarily playing left end, Hunter will see plenty of Havenstein this week. That’s a matchup between one of the top defensive ends in the game and an underrated right tackle.

Havenstein has been very good this season after signing a multi-year extension, showing the Rams made the right move by signing him long-term. Hunter, though, is arguably the toughest test Havenstein will face this season. He’s a long pass rusher with good strength and a knack for getting after the quarterback.

Havenstein has to keep Hunter off of Jared Goff in the pocket in order to keep the offense humming the way it has been.