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

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 offense ranks statistically.

Team Offense

Total Offense

• Points per Game: 26.9 (7th)
• Total Yards per Game: 325 (19th)
• Plays per Game: 56.7 (32nd)
• Yards per Play: 5.7 (13th)
• First Downs per Game: 17.9 (26th)
• Turnovers per Game: 1.43 (23rd)
• Third Down Conversion Percentage: 39.5% (13th)
• Fourth Down Conversion Percentage: 50% (T-17th)
• Red Zone TD Percentage: 65% (8th)
• Overall PFF Grade: 77.2 (8th)
• EPA/play: 0.00 (16th)

After being one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL during their 5-0 start, the Vikings have slowly crept down towards the middle of the pack in a number of categories during their two-game losing streak. Perhaps the most alarming statistic is the fact that the Vikings run the fewest offensive plays per game at this point.

Of course, turnovers forced by the defense impacted that total early in the season, but Minnesota needs to find a way to keep their offense on the field for longer.

Passing Offense

• Completions per Game: 18.3 (29th)
• Pass Attempts per Game: 27.1 (32nd)
• Passing Yards per Game: 213.6 (17th)
• Yards per Pass Attempt: 8.6 (4th)
• Passing TDs per Game: 2 (5th)
• Interceptions per Game: 0.71 (T-17th)
• Passing PFF Grade: 73.3 (14th)
• Pass Blocking PFF Grade: 70.0 (15th)
• Receiving PFF Grade: 75.5 (8th)
• EPA/pass: 0.07 (12th)

Rushing Offense

• Carries per Game: 26.4 (19th)
• Rushing Yards per Game: 111.4 (22nd)
• Yards per Carry: 4.2 (22nd)
• Rushing TDs per Game: 0.57 (T-28th)
• Fumbles Lost per Game: 1.29 (22nd)
• Rushing PFF Grade: 77.0 (18th)
• Run Blocking PFF Grade: 74.3 (3rd)
• EPA/run: -0.09 (19th)

To Kevin O’Connell’s credit, the Vikings have done a much better job of balancing the running game with the passing game this season. Through seven games, Minnesota has almost an even split between carries per game (26.4) and pass attempts per game (27.1).

The rushing attack could still be more efficient, and an average of 2.9 yards per carry against a Rams defense that had allowed more than 120 rushing yards in every game prior to Week 8 is a bit concerning.

Individual Players

QB Sam Darnold

• Completions: 127 (T-23rd)
• Pass Attempts: 189 (T-24th)
• Completion Percentage: 67.2 (T-12th)
• Passing Yards: 1610 (18th)
• Yards per Attempt: 8.5 (4th)
• Passing TDs: 14 (T-5th)
• Interceptions: 5 (T-13th-most)
• PFF Grade: 72.9 (16th among 37 QBs with min. 100 dropbacks)

RB Aaron Jones

• Carries: 104 (T-15th)
• Rushing Yards: 501 (T-14th)
• Yards per Carry: 4.8 (17th)
• Rushing TDs: 2 (T-36th)
• PFF Grade: 88.9 (4th among 49 RBs with min. 50 carries)

WR Justin Jefferson

• Targets: 60 (T-12th)
• Receptions: 41 (T-12th)
• Receiving Yards: 646 (2nd)
• Receiving TDs: 5 (T-4th)
• PFF Grade: 85.5 (3rd among 95 WRs with min. 20 targets)

It is very humorous that in what has been considered a “quiet” year for Justin Jefferson, he still ranks among the top four players in the league in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

WR Jordan Addison

• Targets: 23 (T-128th)
• Receptions: 14 (T-147th)
• Receiving Yards: 231 (93rd)
• Receiving TDs: 1 (T-83rd)
• PFF Grade: 65.2 (T-59th among 95 WRs with min. 20 targets)

WR Jalen Nailor

• Targets: 20 (T-155th)
• Receptions: 14 (T-147th)
• Receiving Yards: 229 (T-94th)
• Receiving TDs: 3 (T-18th)
• PFF Grade: PFF Grade: 68.0 (46th among 95 WRs with min. 20 targets)

TE Johnny Mundt

• Targets: 20 (T-155th)
• Receptions: 14 (T-147th)
• Receiving Yards: 93 (T-186th)
• Receiving TDs: 1 (T-83rd)
• PFF Grade: 51.3 (34th among 37 TEs with min. 15 targets)

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