Many seasons, teams like the Minnesota Vikings could be tempted to overlook the Cleveland Browns with a bye week looming afterwards. However, after four weeks of rollercoaster play from their offense, the Vikings will can’t afford to do that. Nor is the Browns’ defense a pushover.

Despite their 1-3 record, the Browns boast the league’s top-ranked defense in yards allowed. They have yet to allow any of their opponents to gain 300 yards of offense in a game.

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And even if they didn’t have the stats to back the overall unit up, the Browns have maybe the best defensive player in the game. Myles Garrett is capable of destroying an offense single-handedly. He leads Cleveland in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (eight).

If the Vikings want to get a much-needed win on Sunday, they will need their offense to play their most complete game of the season. And that may not require a complex game plan. Much of what has ailed Minnesota’s offense thus far has been self-inflicted.

Here are three keys for the unit in Week 5.

Minimizing penalties

Penalties have been an issue for the entire team through four games, but the Vikings’ offense has been the biggest culprit. Of the team’s 37 confirmed penalties, the offense has been responsible for 19.

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The Vikings’ opening offensive drive stalled when they were called for an ineligible man downfield penalty inside the Steelers’ red zone. That led to a field goal, and the Steelers scored a touchdown on the next drive.

On a potential game-tying drive at the end of the fourth quarter, the Vikings suffered an intentional grounding penalty. A few plays later, they took a delay of game penalty following a spike.

If the Vikings want to get out to a lead, they will have to cut out unnecessary penalties. Ineligible men downfield and delay of games are avoidable, and intentional groundings with no timeouts take additional time off the clock. Cleaning these mistakes up can be the difference between a field goal and an opening-drive statement resulting in a touchdown.

Don’t let Myles Garrett wreck the game

It shouldn’t be groundbreaking news, but the Vikings can’t let Myles Garrett wreck their offensive line. Even though he will be lined up primarily on Christian Darrisaw, the Browns could use him on stunts to exploit Minnesota’s inability to pick up pressure on the interior of the line.

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According to Next Gen Stats, Garrett has generated a 19.8% pressure rate this season, the sixth-highest rate among pass-rushers. Meanwhile, the Vikings are allowing pressure on 36.5% of dropbacks, the 13th-highest rate in the league.

Get Justin Jefferson involved

Justin Jefferson had his best game of the season last week, catching 10 of 11 targets for 126 yards. He goes against a Browns defense that, while tough, could be somewhat vulnerable through the air. Could he continue to ascend in a season where his opportunities haven’t been as common?

Although Cleveland ranks fourth in passing yards allowed, they aren’t quite as stingy in EPA (expected points added). They rank 20th in EPA/pass allowed (0.00). That’s a stark contrast from the Browns’ run defense, which ranks third in EPA/run allowed (-0.21).

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Keys for the Vikings’ offense against the Browns defense