What the Vikings Have Quietly Done Best So Far
The Minnesota Vikings scored a much-needed win in Week 3 over the Cincinnati Bengals, nudging their record to 2-1. Along the way, the club has stood off the page in three key statistical categories.
The Vikings have three weeks of sample in the books, with a 2-1 record to boot, and here’s what the club is doing quite well right now.
Thankfully, for Minnesota’s sake, the areas are rather vital to a great football team’s success, so this particular squad might have the postseason in mind if the trends continue.
Where the Vikings Are Thriving thru 3 Games
Here’s the bread and butter for the purple team.
1. Defense, in General
Per EPA/Play, a statistic that measures expected wins added, the Vikings own the league’s best defense — by a mile. Minnesota checks in at -o.234, and the closest squad behind Brian Flores’ unit is the Jacksonville Jaguars at -0.114. By leaps and bounds, Minnesota’s defense is tops in the NFL per EPA/Play, mainly because Isaiah Rodgers logged two defensive touchdowns in Week 3.
EPA/Play isn’t the only flattering defensive stat. In terms of DVOA, Minnesota ranks second-best in the world through three games, one spot behind the Green Bay Packers.
After an average start per Flores’ standard against the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings flipped a switch on defense and now rank at the very top of the NFL, or close to it.
Minnesota also ranks sixth in fewest yards allowed and fourth in defensive 3rd Down percentage.
Zone Coverage‘s Trevor Ripley wrote about Minnesota’s defense this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers: “Rodgers has the third-lowest time to throw this year at just 2.6 seconds, according to NextGen Stats. So, it’s fairly obvious that Pittsburgh’s strategy to keep the 41-year-old quarterback upright will be to throw the ball one nanosecond after it touches his hands.”
“It’s not the worst game plan for Pittsburgh. After all, they are 2-1, and against a team like the Vikings, who rank 25th this season in missed tackles, maybe a few of those dinks and dunks will spring loose. But unless the Steelers are fine facing a loaded box every play of the game, they’ll need to let it fly eventually. Minnesota’s secondary was once considered the biggest weakness on the defense, but it has actually been one of the greatest strengths, allowing the third-fewest yards through the air in the NFL after three weeks.”
Oddsmakers predict the Vikings to win over the Steelers by a field goal or so.
“The Vikings excel at bringing pressure, and Aaron Rodgers has struggled to beat it, creating a fortuitous opportunity for Minnesota to head to London with a 3-1 record. However, to pull off the win, the Vikings will need to think creatively,” Ripley continued.
“Rodgers still has a high football IQ, and disguising blitzes won’t be as easy as in prior weeks. Still, there’s an obvious hole in Pittsburgh’s steel, and the Vikings are exactly the team with the best chance at exploiting it.”
2. Rushing Offense
The Vikings’ rushing offense stats almost don’t feel real.
Under Kevin O’Connell, since 2022, Minnesota has featured a pass-happy and pass-first offense — basically at all times. The 2025 campaign is different, though, as suddenly, the Vikings rank fifth in the NFL per rushing offense DVOA. In the last three seasons, Minnesota has sniffed nowhere near that high whatsoever.
Minnesota runs the rock the fifth-most per playcalling percentage and checks in at No. 9 in yards per rushing attempt.
EPA/Play isn’t quite as high in the Vikings’ rushing attack, ranking it at No. 11. Still good — but not top-tier like DVOA.
3. The Turnover Battle
This one is just spectacular.
Minnesota has forced 7 turnovers in three games, ranking third-best in the NFL. And while J.J. McCarthy had problems with ball security and interceptions in two games — most rookie quarterbacks do — the Vikings still rank third in turnover differential at plus 2.
Of course, Isaiah Rodgers set the world on fire last weekend, registering one of the all-time great performances in franchise history, with 2 defensive touchdowns, 2 forced fumbles, and flawless pass coverage on Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and friends.
Will Ragatz of SI.com on Rodgers’ all-time outing: “Rodgers made history in the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium with a pick-six, a forced fumble that he returned for a touchdown, and a second forced fumble, not to mention a key pass breakup in the end zone. No NFL player had ever previously recorded two defensive touchdowns and two forced fumbles in the same game.”
“For Rodgers to do that in one half qualifies as legitimately one of the greatest individual defensive performances of all time. He earned the first-ever perfect 99.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, which has been handing out grades to every player in every game since 2006. Rodgers is the seventh player to win DPOW in the Kevin O’Connell era.”
Kevin O’Connell’s team will remain in the playoff hunt throughout the season if it stays upright via the turnover battle. Book it.
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