Here’s Where the Minnesota Vikings Defense Ranks Through Week 7
The Minnesota Vikings took a loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles this past weekend.
While the defense certainly did its best to hold up amid some major struggles on the offensive end, this unit did not have a great day overall in terms of the numbers. Now that Week 7 is behind us, here is a look at where the Minnesota Vikings defense rank compared to the rest of their peers.
Related Story: Here’s Where the Minnesota Vikings Offense Ranks Through Week 7
Team Defense
Total Defense
- Points Allowed per Game: 20.8 (T-10th)
- Total Yards Allowed per Game: 301.7 (9th)
- Plays per Game: 57.8 (25th-most)
- Yards Allowed per Play: 5.2 (9th)
- First Downs Allowed per Game: 16.7 (T-4th)
- Takeaways per Game: 1.17 (13th)
- Overall PFF Grade: 64.3 (19th)
- EPA/Play: -0.10 (3rd)
Despite a loss this weekend, the Minnesota Vikings have still boasted one of the better defenses in the NFL by the numbers. Still, Sunday was a bit of an ugly affair for the unit at times as Minnesota allowed more yards in a single game than it had in its previous five games.
Equally disturbing, it marked the third consecutive game in which the Vikings have not forced a single turnover. It’s the first time in the Brian Flores era the Vikings have not forced a turnover in a three-game stretch.
Pass Defense
- Completions Allowed per Game: 18.2 (5th)
- Pass Attempts Against per Game: 26.8 (2nd-fewest)
- Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 184.0 (7th)
- Net Yards Allowed per Pass Attempt: 6.2 (18th)
- Passing First Downs Allowed per Game: 16.7 (4th)
- Passing TDs Allowed per Game: 1.33 (12th)
- Interceptions per Game: 0.33 (T-24th)
- Sacks per Game: 2.7 (T-8th)
- Pass Rush PFF Grade: 67.4 (T-21st)
- Coverage PFF Grade: 60.8 (11th)
- EPA/Pass: -0.19 (2nd)
Run Defense
- Carries Against per Game: 28.3 (9th-most)
- Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 117.7 (18th)
- Yards Allowed per Carry: 4.2 (16th)
- Rushing TDs Allowed per Game: 0.67 (T-10th)
- Fumbles Recovered per Game: 0.83 (T-3rd)
- Run Defense PFF Grade: 62.9 (21st)
- EPA/Run: 0.00 (23rd)
The fashion in which the Vikings lost on Sunday was atypical to how they’ve lost games in previous weeks so far this season. The Vikings held the Eagles to 45 rushing yards on Sunday. Meanwhile, Week 7 was not only the first time Minnesota allowed more than 200 passing yards in a game; it was also the first time they allowed more than 300 passing yards.
Jalen Hurts was allowed to do just about whatever he wanted with the football, and Minnesota left multiple deep passes virtually uncovered. We’ll see if this prompts any types of change heading into a short week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Individual Players
OLB Jonathan Greenard
- Solo Tackles: 11 (T-263rd)
- Tackles for Loss: 6 (T-18th)
- QB Pressures: 26 (T-20th)
- Sacks: 1.0 (T-137th)
- PFF Grade: 75.5 (22nd among 91 EDGEs with min. 150 snaps)
OLB Dallas Turner
- Solo Tackles: 10 (T-294th)
- Tackles for Loss: 3 (T-91st)
- QB Pressures: 14 (T-81st)
- Sacks: 1.5 (T-101st)
- PFF Grade: 60.8 (59th among 91 EDGEs with min. 150 snaps)
DT Jonathan Allen
- Solo Tackles: 12 (T-245th)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-259th)
- QB Pressures: 14 (T-81st)
- Sacks: 0.5 (T-251st)
- PFF Grade: 53.2 (82nd among 97 DTs with min. 150 snaps)
DT Javon Hargrave
- Solo Tackles: 10 (T-294th)
- Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-152nd)
- QB Pressures: 14 (T-81st)
- Sacks: 2.0 (T-58th)
- PFF Grade: 50.2 (86th among 97 DTs with min. 150 snaps)
DT Jalen Redmond
- Solo Tackles: 11 (T-263rd)
- Tackles for Loss: 5 (T-31st)
- QB Pressures: 12 (T-97th)
- Sacks: 3.0 (T-38th)
- PFF Grade: 73.7 (T-19th among 97 DTs with min. 150 snaps)
LB Eric Wilson
- Solo Tackles: 19 (T-125th)
- Tackles for Loss: 3 (T-91st)
- QB Pressures: 6 (T-202nd)
- Sacks: 1.5 (T-101st)
- Forced Fumbles: 2 (T-5th)
- PFF Grade: 55.5 (T-52nd among 75 LBs with min. 150 snaps)
LB Ivan Pace
- Solo Tackles: 23 (T-71st)
- Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-152nd)
- QB Pressures: 9 (T-144th)
- Sacks: 1.0 (T-137th)
- PFF Grade: 45.5 (T-66th among 75 LBs with min. 150 snaps)
CB Byron Murphy
- Solo Tackles: 21 (T-97th)
- Tackles for Loss: 0
- Passes Defended: 2 (T-136th)
- Interceptions: 0
- PFF Grade: 52.4 (81st among 98 CBs with min. 150 snaps)
CB Isaiah Rodgers
- Solo Tackles: 15 (T-193rd)
- Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-152nd)
- Passes Defended: 2 (T-136th)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-30th)
- Forced Fumbles: 2 (T-5th)
- PFF Grade: 71.0 (20th among 98 CBs with min. 150 snaps)
S Josh Metellus
- Solo Tackles: 22 (T-81st)
- Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-259th)
- Passes Defended: 3 (T-84th)
- Interceptions: 1 (T-30th)
- PFF Grade: 73.6 (T-10th among 81 safeties with min. 150 snaps)
S Theo Jackson
- Solo Tackles: 12 (T-245th)
- Tackles for Loss: 0
- Passes Defended: 0
- Interceptions: 0
- PFF Grade: 68.6 (23rd among 81 safeties with min. 150 snaps)
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via NFL Next Gen Stats, Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and nfeloapp.com.
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