The Minnesota Vikings are riding into their bye week at 5-0 and tied atop the entire NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.
A major reason for this success to begin the 2024 season has come because of their defensive success, and Brian Flores has put his players in a place to make plays time and time again. Here is a look at where the Vikings rank statistically on defense through the first five weeks.
Team Defense
Total Defense
- Points Allowed per Game: 15.2 (4th)
- Total Yards Allowed per Game: 330.2 (16th)
- Plays per Game: 68.6 (2nd-most)
- Yards Allowed per Play: 4.8 (4th)
- First Downs Allowed per Game: 19.2 (T-16th)
- Takeaways per Game: 2.6 (2nd)
- Overall PFF Grade: 71.2 (11th)
- EPA/play: -0.22 (1st)
Despite having to be on the field more than any defense besides the Indianapolis Colts, the Minnesota Vikings have managed to stifle opposing offenses to the tune of being a top five scoring defense and the number one team per EPA. Turnovers have been a problem on the offensive side, but the defense has buoyed all of those issues as Minnesota continuously has forced opponents into giving the ball away.
Pass Defense
- Completions Allowed per Game: 27.8 (32nd)
- Pass Attempts Against per Game: 46 (Most)
- Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 263 (30th)
- Net Yards Allowed per Attempt: 5.3 (7th)
- Passing First Downs Allowed per Game: 14.6 (32nd)
- Passing TDs Allowed per Game: 1.6 (T-21st)
- Interceptions per Game: 2.2 (1st)
- Sacks per Game: 4 (2nd)
- Pass Rush PFF Grade: 56.4 (28th)
- Coverage PFF Grade: 74.9 (8th)
- EPA/pass: -0.21 (4th)
Run Defense
- Carries Against per Game: 18.6 (Fewest)
- Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 67.2 (2nd)
- Yards Allowed per Carry: 3.6 (2nd)
- Rushing First Downs Allowed per Game: 3 (T-1st)
- Rushing TDs Allowed per Game: 0.2 (T-1st)
- Fumbles Recovered per Game: 0.4 (T-16th)
- Run Defense PFF Grade: 79.1 (2nd)
- EPA/run: -0.26 (2nd)
At first glance, a Vikings fan might be concerned about some of the passing totals that the Vikings have allowed through the first five weeks. However, we also have to take into account the fact that Minnesota has pounced on opponents early in games all season, thus forcing them into trying to move the ball through the air.
Additionally, Minnesota’s run defense has been truly elite, and it has further forced opponents into being one-dimensional against a team that has allowed a team to surpass 100 rushing yards just once in five games.
Individual Players
OLB Jonathan Greenard
- Solo Tackles: 12 (T-186th)
- Tackles for Loss: 3 (T-45th)
- QB Pressures: 29 (T-2nd)
- Sacks: 4 (T-10th)
- PFF Grade: 66.7 (T-44th among 98 OLBs with min. 100 snaps)
OLB Andrew Van Ginkel
- Solo Tackles: 15 (T-135th)
- Tackles for Loss: 3 (T-45th)
- QB Pressures: 14 (T-42nd)
- Sacks: 3 (T-20th)
- Passes Defended: 3 (T-43rd)
- Interceptions: 2 (T-3rd)
- PFF Grade: 72.4 (25th among 98 OLBs with min. 100 snaps)
OLB Pat Jones
- Solo Tackles: 6 (T-354th)
- Tackles for Loss: 6 (T-3rd)
- QB Pressures: 11 (T-62nd)
- Sacks: 5 (T-5th)
- PFF Grade: 53.5 (87th among 98 OLBs with min. 100 snaps)
DL Harrison Phillips
- Solo Tackles: 6 (T-354th)
- Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-101st)
- QB Pressures: 8 (T-103rd)
- Sacks: 2 (T-45th)
- PFF Grade: 65.3 (29th among 101 DLs with min. 100 snaps)
DL Jonathan Bullard
- Solo Tackles: 7 (T-312th)
- Tackles for Loss: 4 (T-22nd)
- QB Pressures: 3 (T-227th)
- Sacks: 0
- PFF Grade: 58.2 (51st among 101 DLs with min. 100 snaps)
LB Blake Cashman
- Solo Tackles: 20 (T-65th)
- Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-101st)
- QB Pressures: 6 (T-137th)
- Sacks: 1 (T-109th)
- Passes Defended: 5 (T-10th)
- PFF Grade: 75.6 (12th among 79 LBs with min. 100 snaps)
LB Ivan Pace
- Solo Tackles: 15 (T-135th)
- Tackles for Loss: 3 (T-45th)
- QB Pressures: 6 (T-137th)
- Sacks: 1 (T-109th)
- PFF Grade: 64.7 (36th among 79 LBs with min. 100 snaps)
CB Stephon Gilmore
- Solo Tackles: 15 (T-135th)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-204th)
- Passes Defended: 3 (T-43rd)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-18th)
- PFF Grade: 68.7 (33rd among 99 CBs with min. 100 snaps)
CB Byron Murphy
- Solo Tackles: 23 (T-34th)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-204th)
- Passes Defended: 4 (T-22nd)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-18th)
- PFF Grade: 60.8 (64th among 99 CBs with min. 100 snaps)
CB Shaquill Griffin
- Solo Tackles: 8 (T-275th)
- Tackles for Loss: 0
- Passes Defended: 5 (T-10th)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-18th)
- PFF Grade: 59.7 (68th among 99 CBs with min. 100 snaps)
S Camryn Bynum
- Solo Tackles: 20 (T-65th)
- Tackles for Loss: 0
- Passes Defended: 5 (T-10th)
- Interceptions: 2 (T-3rd)
- PFF Grade: 68.4 (T-26th among 77 safeties with min. 100 snaps)
S Harrison Smith
- Solo Tackles: 19 (T-78th)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-204th)
- Passes Defended: 4 (T-22nd)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-18th)
- PFF Grade: 67.1 (31st among 77 safeties with min. 100 snaps)
S Josh Metellus
- Solo Tackles: 17 (T-108th)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-204th)
- Passes Defended: 3 (T-43rd)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-18th)
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and nfeloapp.com.
Minnesota Vikings Statistical Rankings Through Week 5: Offense