The Minnesota Vikings stomped the Atlanta Falcons last weekend, thanks to a dominant 4th Quarter that sent Kirk Cousins and his team home unhappy.
4 Things the Vikings Must Fix before the Playoffs
Kevin O’Connell’s team has an 11-2 record and needs one more win or a Seattle Seahawks loss on Sunday night to reach the playoffs.
The Vikings, though, still have some areas to clean up, and these are the problematic tendencies through 14 weeks. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most vital item to fix).
4. Restore the ELITE Defense
Minnesota’s defense is not systemically flawed; let’s make that crystal clear.
But it should seek to revisit the utterly elite performance from the season’s first 11 weeks. Here’s the deal:
Vikings Defense,
NFL Ranking,
per EPA/Play:
Week 1-11 = 1st
Week 12-14 = 21st
Return the operation to the September through mid-November standard.
3. Limit the Sacks on Sam Darnold
Minnesota ranks 29th in quarterback sacks allowed percentage, also known as fourth worst.
At times, Darnold holds the football too long before making a decision in the pocket, so some of the onus is on him to get rid of the rock. On the whole, however, the purple offensive line must do a better job of keeping Darnold upright, and yes, this is mainly a criticism of the offensive line’s interior.
Fourth-worst in sacks allowed is borderline unbecoming of a postseason team.
2. Improved Rushing Efficiency
O’Connell’s offense ranks 24th per rushing EPA/Play, which isn’t flatly atrocious but also isn’t very efficient.
Thankfully, the team has not abandoned running the ball in crucial spots — as it did during the 2023 season — and to the naked eye, the rushing game seems visibly improved.
Still, the Vikings could use one of Aaron Jones’ hot streaks to finish the regular season and open the postseason. He did last year with his old team, the Green Bay Packers.
1. Stop the Giveaways on Offense, Special Teams
The Vikings didn’t have any interceptions or fumbles last weekend versus the Falcons, and most agreed it was one of the season’s best games.
Minnesota now ranks 23rd (10th-worst) in giveaways, but if it continues to correct those sins, it can tunnel deep into the postseason.
But the turnovers — particularly those in the 1st Quarter — must cease.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.