The Atlanta Falcons are, essentially, a mess.
Off to an 0-5 start with fourth-quarter collapses in Weeks 2 and 3, owner Arthur Blank fired General Manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn — glorified as architects of Atlanta's Super Bowl team just 3½ years ago — and Bob Kotwica, a little-known special teams coordinator who had a whole lot to do with Blank reaching his breaking point before the middle of October.
Next up is a trip to Minneapolis and U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The 1-4 Vikings don't fashion themselves as a mess quite yet. But they are on edge about facing a team that has nothing more to lose and every reason to play without a hint of conventional restraints.
"They may be more aggressive," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
Count on it, added Vikings special teams coach Marwan Maalouf.
"We have to be prepared for any and all, and that's what we've told the guys," Maalouf said. "Some things I think will stay the same, but we're ready for fakes, we're ready for formations that we haven't seen.
"If you prepare for the unexpected but stay within your scheme and what our guys understand, I think everything will work out for the best. But we have to be ready for pretty much anything."
Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris, elevated from defensive coordinator, hasn't been a head coach since going 17-31 with no playoff appearances with Tampa Bay from 2009-11. He said he doesn't feel like an interim coach because there's still 11 games left. As for being aggressive on game day, he's all in.