The Vikings Top Offensive Performers at Eagles, per PFF
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings fell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, 24-7, with a score eerily similar to how the Vikings dispatched the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 (23-7).
Defensive porousness and offensive inconsistency marred Kevin O’Connell’s second career game as head coach, while the special teams group was the lone highlight. Punter Ryan Wright (49.2 yards per punt) was marvelous, and cornerback Patrick Peterson executed a nifty field goal block.
It was all for nil, though, as the Vikings were outclassed on Monday Night Football.
On offense, these were the top performers per Pro Football Focus:
1. Brian O’Neill (73.3)
2. Justin Jefferson (63.3)
t3. Garrett Bradbury (60.5)
t3. Irv Smith (60.5)
t5. K.J. Osborn (59.4)
t5. Adam Thielen (59.4)
And there, in a nutshell, is why the Vikings didn’t win against the Eagles. Aside from O’Neill, none of the grades were very good. Last week’s scores in the victory over Green Bay were significantly higher:
- Justin Jefferson (91.1)
- Kirk Cousins (85.1)
- Brian O’Neill (80.6)
- Ed Ingram (79.3)
- Dalvin Cook (75.0)
Brian O’Neill was his dependable self, which surprised no one. Justin Jefferson endured a forgettable game, causing one of Kirk Cousins’ interceptions. His performance versus the Eagles may end up as the “worst” game of his 2022 campaign, tallying just 48 yards.
Garrett Bradbury‘s 60.5 grade is wildly on brand. He lives around that mark while struggling with pass protection but performing well via run blocking. Irv Smith had scapegoatish night, dropping a sure-fire touchdown pass in the 2nd Quarter that would’ve fundamentally changed the game.
Adam Thielen curiously wasn’t targeted for a second consecutive game until garbage time was on the agenda. The Vikings must figure out a way to utilize his reliable skillset. Otherwise, something is severely amuck.
In a loss, “the bad” must be highlighted, so these were the worst performers on offense:
3. Kirk Cousins (53.3)
2. Ed Ingram (49.5)
1. Dalvin Cook (48.4)
Anytime the QB1 and RB1 make the naughty list — while the defense allows 486 total yards — a loss is imminent.
That was the case in Week 2 for a Vikings team that will soul search for the next five days in preparation for the Detroit Lions at home this weekend.
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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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