Laquon Treadwell turned heads this past Sunday with a one-handed sideline catch that helped Minnesota get a win over the Green Bay Packers.
The Vikings wide receiver finished with three catches for 51 yards, his best performance in the pros so far.
Matthew Coller of 1500ESPN.com recently wrote that with Minnesota's wide receiver group hampered by a few injuries, Treadwell could have another opportunity to shine this Sunday against Baltimore.
Coller wrote:
Plays like his sideline catch were the reason the Vikings selected Treadwell in the first round in 2016.
"I always try to stay mentally ready while other guys are making plays," Treadwell said after the win over the Packers. "I knew my time would come. Just make the most of it."
Now the Vikings will need him to contribute even more.* *
On Wednesday, [Stefon] Diggs and Michael Floyd both missed practice, leaving Treadwell as the team's No. 2 receiver behind [Adam] Thielen. If they can't play against Baltimore on Sunday, he will step into the limelight against a passing defense that has allowed the fourth worst passer rating in the NFL – a team that's likely to adapt to some of the things the Vikings have done well with [Case] Keenum under center.
Against Chicago and Green Bay, the Vikings passing game was able to survive on throws to Thielen and tight end Kyle Rudolph, as well as screen passes to running backs.
Thielen has proven to be unstoppable over the last two seasons, and Rudolph is reliable as they come for tight ends, but if the Ravens take away any one of those weapons, Treadwell becomes especially valuable.
Treadwell has eight receptions for 93 yards through six games.
Vikings not looking too far ahead in season
The Vikings currently sit at 4-2 and are tied with the Packers for the best record in the NFC North. Minnesota holds the tiebreaker based on its head-to-head win this past Sunday.
Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune chatted with Rudolph about Minnesota's recent stretch of wins in division play and what to expect going forward.
[Rudolph] said that, coming off a close road victory against the Bears, it was important to win their first meeting with Green Bay to improve to 4-2. **
"It helped us a lot," Rudolph said. "It was our third division game in a row and any time you play the Packers, it's going to have playoff implications. We had to hold court at home and win a division home game. We finished a stretch of three division games in a row 2-1. That's big for us, but it doesn't mean anything for us if we don't come home this week and win again."
Rudolph also told Hartman that the Vikings sole focus right now is on Baltimore and not what will happen a month or two down the road.
Does he think that division race is there for the taking? **
"Absolutely, our division will be a tight race," Rudolph said. "It's going to come down to the end of the season, but through six games, we've put ourselves in a position to take it week by week, and you can't worry about winning the division now. We just have to worry about beating the Ravens."
