The Vikings 2022 Defense by the Numbers: After Week 12

The Vikings 2022 Defense by the Numbers: After Week 12
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za'Darius Smith, left, and linebacker Jordan Hicks, right, celebrate with D.J. Wonnum. © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Minnesota Vikings have 11 games in the books in 2022, with a 9-2 record exiting Week 12.

Rookie head coach Kevin O’Connell won for a ninth time in Week 12, thanks to a bounceback victory over the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving. Next up, the Vikings remain at home to play the 7-4 New York Jets, the seventh seed in the AFC’s evolving playoff picture.

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Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson. © JAMIE GERMANO / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Vikings are three-point favorites at home against the Jets, who belittled the Chicago Bears in East Rutherford, 31-10, last weekend.

These are the Vikings defensive rankings through Week 12.

Note: With bye weeks underway, all stats are “per game.”


  • 4th in 4th Quarter Points Allowed
  • 5th in Fewest Defensive Penalty Yards
  • 5th in Takeaways
  • 6th in Fewest Defensive Penalties
  • 8th in INT %
  • 10th in Defensive 4th Down Conv %
  • 11th in Yards per Point Allowed
  • 12th in Sacks
  • 13th in Yards per Rush Allowed
  • 14th in Rushing Yards Allowed
  • 15th in Sack %
  • 16th in Defensive EPA/Play
  • 16th in Rushing Defense DVOA
  • 16th in Passing TDs Allowed
  • 19th in Points per Play Allowed
  • 19th in TDs Allowed
  • 20th in 1st Half Points Allowed
  • 21st in Points Allowed
  • 21st in Defensive 3rd Down Conv %
  • 22nd in 2nd Half Points Allowed
  • 23rd in Defense DVOA
  • 23rd in Rushing TDs Allowed
  • 26th in Redzone TD% Allowed
  • 26th in 1st Downs Allowed
  • 27th in Passing Defense DVOA
  • 28th in Passer Rating Allowed
  • 31st in Yards Allowed
  • 31st in Yards per Play Allowed
  • 31st in Completion % Allowed
  • 32nd in Yards per Pass Allowed
  • 32nd in Passing Yards Allowed

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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