Here’s Where the Minnesota Vikings Defense Ranks Through Week 8

  |  
Oct 29, 2024
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings fell for the second week in a row in a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams captured a 30-20 victory in Kevin O’Connell’s return to SoFi Stadium, and now, the Vikings are preparing for a Week 9 Sunday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts. With Week 8 officially in the books, here is where the Minnesota Vikings defense ranks statistically.

Team Defense

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Total Defense

  • Points Allowed per Game: 19.6 (9th)
  • Total Yards Allowed per Game: 346.9 (18th)
  • Plays per Game: 66.4 (3rd-most)
  • Yards Allowed per Play; 5.2 (7th)
  • First Downs Allowed per Game: 20.1 (T-18th)
  • Takeaways per Game: 2.14 (T-2nd)
  • Overall PFF Grade: 70.1 (12th)
  • EPA/play: -0.17 (2nd)

The Vikings defense has struggled in its two games following the bye, and while alarms may be going off for fans, it shouldn’t be time to panic in Minnesota. Their first loss came against a juggernaut of a Lions offense that has been one of the best units in football, and then they came off a short week against a talented Rams offense that got one of its best receivers back in Puka Nacua.

Pass Defense

  • Completions Allowed per Game: 26.6 (32nd)
  • Pass Attempts Against per Game: 41.3 (Most)
  • Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 263 (30th)
  • Yards Allowed per Attempt: 5.9 (10th)
  • Passing First Downs Allowed per Game: 14.9 (31st)
  • Passing TDs Allowed per Game: 2 (T-28th)
  • Interceptions per Game: 1.71 (1st)
  • Sacks per Game: 3.4 (3rd)
  • Pass Rush PFF Grade: 61.3 (26th)
  • Coverage PFF Grade: 63.7 (18th)
  • EPA/pass: -0.09 (5th)

Run Defense

  • Carries Against per Game: 21.7 (2nd-fewest)
  • Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 83.9 (3rd)
  • Yards Allowed per Carry: 3.9 (3rd)
  • Rushing First Downs Allowed per Game: 3.29 (1st)
  • Rushing TDs Allowed per Game: 0.43 (T-1st)
  • Fumbles Recovered per Game: 0.43 (T-19th)
  • Run Defense PFF Grade: 82.2 (3rd)
  • EPA/run: -0.28 (2nd)

The Vikings run defense has continued to be dominant this season, and it has forced opponents into throwing the ball against Minnesota more than any other team in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Vikings have also run into some very strong passing offenses over the past couple weeks, which has not fared well for a secondary full of older players. A game against the Indianapolis Colts should get the group back on track.

Individual Players

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OLB Jonathan Greenard

  • Solo Tackles: 15 (T-241st)
  • Tackles for Loss: 5 (T-41st)
  • QB Pressures: 43 (T-3rd)
  • Sacks: 5 (T-14th)
  • PFF Grade: 83.3 (9th among 99 EDGEs with min. 150 snaps)

OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

  • Solo Tackles: 25 (T-111th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 8 (T-7th)
  • QB Pressures: 19 (T-55th)
  • Sacks: 5 (T-14th)
  • PFF Grade: 77.2 (19th among 99 EDGEs with min. 150 snaps)

OLB Pat Jones

  • Solo Tackles: 11 (T-316th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 6 (T-26th)
  • QB Pressures: 11 (T-116th)
  • Sacks: 5 (T-14th)
  • PFF Grade: 51.2 (90th among 99 EDGEs with min. 150 snaps)

DT Harrison Phillips

  • Solo Tackles: 8 (T-422nd)
  • Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-171st)
  • QB Pressures: 11 (T-116th)
  • Sacks: 2 (T-80th)
  • PFF Grade: 62.9 (46th among 103 DTs with min. 150 snaps)

DT Jonathan Bullard

  • Solo Tackles: 10 (T-353rd)
  • Tackles for Loss: 5 (T-41st)
  • QB Pressures: 4 (T-266th)
  • Sacks: 0
  • PFF Grade: 57.5 (T-58th among 103 DTs with min, 150 snaps)

LB Blake Cashman

  • Solo Tackles: 20 (T-168th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-171st)
  • QB Pressures: 6 (T-202nd)
  • Sacks: 1 (T-158th)
  • Passes Defended: 5 (T-35th)
  • PFF Grade: 75.6 (16th among 80 LBs with min. 150 snaps)

LB Ivan Pace

  • Solo Tackles: 25 (T-111th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 4 (T-62nd)
  • QB Pressures: 12 (T-101st)
  • Sacks: 2 (T-80th)
  • PFF Grade: 60.6 (T-51st among 80 LBs with min. 150 snaps)

CB Stephon Gilmore

  • Solo Tackles: 22 (T-147th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-293rd)
  • Passes Defended: 4 (T-52nd)
  • Interceptions: 1 (T-31st)
  • PFF Grade: 62.4 (67th among 107 CBs with min. 150 snaps)
Minnesota Vikings
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CB Byron Murphy

  • Solo Tackles: 29 (T-68th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-171st)
  • Passes Defended: 6 (T-19th)
  • Interceptions: 2 (T-11th)
  • PFF Grade: 65.6 (54th among 107 CBs with min. 150 snaps)

S Camryn Bynum

  • Solo Tackles: 25 (T-111th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 0
  • Passes Defended: 6 (T-19th)
  • Interceptions: 2 (T-11th)
  • PFF Grade: 59.9 (49th among 83 safeties with min. 150 snaps)

S Harrison Smith

  • Solo Tackles: 27 (T-86th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-171st)
  • Passes Defended: 4 (T-52nd)
  • Interceptions: 1 (T-31st)
  • PFF Grade: 62.5 (T-36th among 83 safeties with min. 150 snaps)

S Josh Metellus

  • Solo Tackles: 24 (T-125th)
  • Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-293rd)
  • Passes Defended: 3 (T-94th)
  • Interceptions: 1 (T-31st)
  • PFF Grade: 72.6 (16th among 83 safeties with min. 150 snaps)

Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and nfeloapp.com.

Here’s Where the Minnesota Vikings Offense Ranks Through Week 8
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