The Vikings Top Defensive Performers at Bills, per PFF
Dustin Baker
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The Vikings Top Defensive Performers at Bills
The Minnesota Vikings survived the Buffalo Bills in Week 10, 33-30, in a game showcasing a 17-point 2nd Half comeback by Kevin O’Connell’s team.
Buffalo seized control of the game in the 2nd and 3rd Quarters after a swell start by the Vikings. But Minnesota roared back as the 3rd Quarter wound down and snatched the 4th and overtime periods.
On defense, these were the top performers per Pro Football Focus:
1. Harrison Phillips (87.0)
2. Danielle Hunter (84.1)
3. Patrick Peterson (82.4)
4. Jonathan Bullard (72.6)
5. James Lynch (68.4)
In his version of a revenge game, defensive lineman Harrison Phillips logged 2 tackles and a QB hit, good enough for the Vikings top defender of Week 10. There were oodles of subplots for Bills-Vikings, and Phillips against his old team was near the top of the list. He didn’t disappoint.
Danielle Hunter registered 2 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 QB hit. The eight-year veteran was a disruptive force all afternoon.
And then the “unsung guys,” Jonathan Bullard and James Lynch, put thumbprints on the tryst in Buffalo. Bullard tallied 4 tackles in his best game yet as a Viking, while Lynch accrued 5 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Finally, the man of the hour on defense, Patrick Peterson, continued his resurgent hot streak, ripping off two passes for interceptions from MVP frontrunner Josh Allen. Peterson also added 4 tackles, but his game-ending interception will be remembered for a lifetime.
Even in victory, “the bad” must be highlighted, so these were the “worst” performers on defense:
3. Harrison Smith (50.6)
2. Andrew Booth (44.4)
1. Eric Kendricks (38.3)
The Vikings head home in Week 11, taking on the 6-3 Dallas Cowboys. Dallas has Minnesota’s number since the franchise opened U.S. Bank Stadium, defeating the Vikings thrice at the venue. The Cowboys are early one-point favorites.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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