Vikings Offensive Line Has Been Outstanding During Three-Game Winning Streak

A big reason why the offense is humming right now? The guys up front.

Kirk Cousins will get the headlines – and rightfully so – as the driving force behind the Vikings' offensive resurgence. Cousins has been nothing short of spectacular in leading the Vikings to 28, 38, and now 42 points in three straight victories.

Credit should also go to offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who has called three outstanding games, and to Cousins' various weapons at the skill positions.

But the group that deserves to be talked about more as a massive factor towards the Vikings' recent offensive success is the offensive line. The Vikings have struggled to put together a top-notch O-line in recent years, but this group looks the part.

Cousins wasn't sacked once against the Lions. Not only that, but he had clean pocket after clean pocket, giving him time to survey the field and find seven different receivers for 337 passing yards. Cousins took an average of 3.38 seconds to throw his 34 pass attempts, which was the most in the NFL in Week 7 and the third-highest average in a game this season.

The #Vikings have allowed a grand total of three sacks and 16 pressures over the past three games.

They allowed six sacks and 21 pressures in Week 4 alone.

The offensive line deserves a TON of credit for the current three-game win streak.

— Eric Thompson (@eric_j_thompson) October 20, 2019

The line also paved the way for Dalvin Cook to rush for 142 yards. Cook made some excellent plays after contact, but also was afforded some sizable holes by the big guys up front.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this improvement from the O-line has been the development of Garrett Bradbury. The rookie center got off to a slow start to his career, but over the past few weeks has shown why the Vikings selected him in the first round this year.

Right tackle Brian O'Neill, a second-rounder last year, continues to look like a budding star. He still has yet to allow a sack in his career, and his consistency throughout this season has made him the best player on the line.

Importantly, the Vikings are fully healthy up front right now. Josh Kline has missed multiple games this year, Pat Elflein has missed a game, and Riley Reiff had to leave last weekend's game against the Eagles. All three were healthy and effective against the Lions.

Reiff has provided solid play opposite O'Neill this year, and Kline looks like an underrated offseason acquisition. Elflein still needs to improve his consistency and avoid the awful reps he seems to have at least one of per game, but he's been better of late.

Is this sustainable? We'll see. The fact that the line was so good last week against a great Eagles defensive front offers reasons to be encouraged. If the line can continue to play at this high of a level going forward, the Vikings may just be able to continue posting big point totals and winning football games.