Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings: What happens if the offensive line can't protect Sam Bradford?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Well, we sort of saw the answer to this question on display in Philadelphia and ... it’s not good. The Eagles unraveled the Vikings off the edge in Week 7, leading a skittish Bradford into three costly turnovers. The carnage continued Monday night as Bradford was sacked five times by Chicago. For a Minnesota team which, unless Jerick McKinnon suddenly takes off, shows little semblance of a grind-it-out run game, that volume of mistakes won’t fly. It has to win the turnover battle if it wants to stay on track.

So, the play of OTs Jake Long, T.J. Clemmings and Jeremiah Sirles is cause for major concern. Bradford was sharp during his first four Vikings games, averaging 247.5 yards through the air with six total TDs. Most importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. But injuries to Matt Kalil and Andre Smith have forced Minnesota to remake its O-line on the fly. The early returns have not been comforting.

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