Coach Leslie Frazier said this afternoon he wants his players prepared for warmer temps when the Vikings play in Houston on Sunday where the forecasted high is 72 with 84 percent humidity, according to weather.com.
The Vikings can expect warm temperatures in their indoor practice facility. “Our players don’t know that, but when they come back on Wednesday we’re gonna warm it up a little bit because they’re predicting about 72, 75 (in Houston) which is a lot different than where we are right now,” Frazier said at his news conference. “So we’re going to try to simulate that as best we can in our indoors (practices).”
The Texans play their home games in Reliant Stadium, a facility with a retractable roof. A Texans spokesman said whether the roof is open or closed is a decision made by the club two hours before kickoff.
The roof has been closed for all Texans regular season games so far this season. When the roof is closed, the inside temperature might be around 70 degrees, the spokesman said. That could still be warm compared with what the Vikings are accustomed to, particularly down on the playing field where temperatures are expected to be among the warmest in the building.
Obviously Frazier wants his team prepared in every way possible. The 8-6 Vikings, with two regular season games remaining, are trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The 12-2 Texans are among the NFL’s better teams and their strengths include a more than capable defense against the run.
The Texans are expected to continue the strategy of other defenses the Vikings have played, crowding the line of scrimmage with tacklers trying to stop Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher. Peterson needs 294 yards to break the NFL single season rushing record of 2,105 yards by Eric Dickerson.
“For good reason (crowding the line),” Frazier said. “He’s on the verge of breaking a record that many thought would never be broken. We expect it. We’re preparing for it again this week. Houston is a very good team against the run. It won’t be any different.”
Frazier liked the play of second-year quarterback Christian Ponder yesterday, praising Ponder for “putting us in good plays” and passing efficiently. “I thought he played a very good game,” Fraizer said.
Frazier said defensive end Brian Robison, who injured his shoulder in yesterday’s win over the Rams, is the only player coming out of the game that is “questionable” for the Texans.