What we learned from Vikings' defeat of Rams

The Vikings made a point of targeting safety Anthony Harris as an undrafted free agent two years ago, when they brought him in on a pre-draft visit and gave the Virginia product a $10,000 signing bonus, in addition to a $10,000 salary guarantee, to sign as a rookie free agent. In his eighth career start, he showed some of what attracted the Vikings to him, playing well in coverage, blowing up a run for a 3-yard loss and making one of the game's big plays when he stripped Cooper Kupp at the goal line.

The Vikings have been one of the league's best running teams on the right side of the line this season — they are No. 3 in the NFL on runs behind right tackle and No. 8 on runs to the tight end on the right side of the line, according to Football Outsiders — and they beat the Rams there on Sunday. Latavius Murray's 25-yard run came on the right side, with center Pat Elflein pulling for him, and he found 13 yards between Elflein and right guard Joe Berger on one run. His 8-yard TD came behind blocks from Berger and right tackle Rashod Hill, who was filling in for the injured Mike Remmers.

Sunday wasn't his most productive day, but it gave Jerick McKinnon another chance to flash his versatility. He had 60 yards on 19 touches. He also had a pair of impressive blitz pickups in the backfield, and on a handful of snaps, the Vikings spread the Rams out by motioning McKinnon out of the backfield into the slot, leaving Case Keenum alone in the backfield with five receivers across the formation.

Ben Goessling