Vikings Defense: First Half Performance By The Numbers
A look at the stat book reveals how the Vikings defense has stacked up after eight games.
In 2013 the Minnesota Vikings defense ranked 31st in the NFL. They gave up 397.6 yards per game. They also allowed 30.0 points per game.
That all changed in 2014 when the team acquired one of the best defensive-minded coaches in the NFL, head coach Mike Zimmer. Under Zimmer, the Vikings defense has gone from bottom of the barrel to a perennial top-5 squad.
Through Week 9, here are the notable team and individual defensive statistics.
Team Stats
- TOTAL YARDS PER GAME ALLOWED
- 282.1 yards per game. NFL rank = 4th.
- RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED
- 81.4 yards per game. NFL rank = 3rd.
- PASSING YARDS ALLOWED
- 200.8 yards per game. NFL rank = 7th.
- POINTS ALLOWED
- 135 points. NFL rank = 3rd.
At the season’s halfway point, the Vikings have the 5th-fewest penalties in the NFL (48), and the team ranks 14th in the league in turnover margin (+2).
Individual Stats
Viking defenders, their Pro Football Focus grades (in parenthesis), and their first-half production.
Defensive Ends
Everson Griffen (89.4) – 21 tackles in 8 games, including 10 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Danielle Hunter (83.6) – 9 tackles in 8 games, including 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble.
Brian Robison (50.7) – 3 tackles in 8 games, including 1 sack.
Stephen Weatherly (53.0) – 1 tackle in 7 games.
Defensive Tackles
Linval Joseph (90.0) – 23 tackles in games, including 2.5 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.
Tom Johnson (73.8) – 10 tackles in 8 games, including 2 sacks.
Shamar Stephen (76.4) – 4 tackles in 8 games, including 1 sack.
Jaleel Johnson (69.5) – 0 tackles in 2 games.
Linebackers
Anthony Barr (86.3) – 33 tackles in 8 games, including 1 sack and 5 passes defended.
Eric Kendricks (64.3) – 40 tackles in 8 games, including 1 sack and 4 passes defended.
Ben Gedeon (71.0) – 13 tackles in 8 games.
Emmanuel Lamur (76.5) – 5 tackles in 8 games, including 1 fumble recovery.
Corners
Xavier Rhodes (83.1) – 18 tackles in 8 games, including 1 interception and 5 passes defended.
Trae Waynes (74.9) – 36 tackles in 8 games, including 2 interceptions and 8 passes defended.
Mackensie Alexander (71.8) – 7 tackles in 7 games, including 2 passes defended.
Terence Newman (80.9) – 14 tackles in 8 games, including 2 passes defended.
Tramaine Brock (42.2) – 0 tackles in 5 games.
Safeties
Harrison Smith (93.7) – 34 tackles in 8 games, including 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 6 passes defended.
Andrew Sendejo (70.6) – 29 tackles in 6 games, including 1 interception and 2 passes defended.
Anthony Harris (74.5) – 6 tackles in 8 games, including 1 fumble recovery.
Jayron Kearse (71.3) – 3 tackles in 7 games.
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus, ESPN.com and NFL.com.