The Minnesota Vikings lead the NFC North at 2-1 after Kirk Cousins‘ latest game-winning drive at the end of regulation. After trailing by double-digits on two different occasions — including a 24-14 deficit to start the fourth quarter — the Vikings scored 14 unanswered points, capped off by K.J. Osborn‘s 28-yard touchdown strike from Cousins with 45 seconds remaining. Although Minnesota didn’t play up to expectations in Week 3, they still found a way to win against a feisty divisional opponent.
While the offense still has a considerable way to go before reaching its full potential, it’s the defense that has left Skoldiers perplexed.
On one hand, Ed Donatell’s unit doesn’t appear to be much different than Zimmer’s over the past two years as it pertains to getting pummeled in yardage allowed. So far on the season, the Vikings rank:
- 30th in yards allowed
- 29th in passing yards allowed
- 25th in rushing yards allowed
On the other hand, Minnesota ranks 10th in points allowed. Let’s be clear, the latter ranking is the most important benchmark for this defense.
If you currently have a glass-half-full approach with this defense, it’s easy to point out the stellar play of a few veterans.
Za’Darius Smith has made his presence felt from the very start of the season. Although he has just one sack in three games, he’s rushing the passer at an elite level. The former Green Bay Packers All-Pro has generated 12 pressures, which is ninth-most among edge rushers. Smith’s 13.3% pressure rate leads the team and will be a pivotal if Minnesota is to remain a contender throughout the NFC.
Patrick Peterson is the veteran who’s holding the secondary together. Although Pro Football Focus didn’t think much of Peterson’s stellar play last season, the former All-Pro and potential future Hall of Famer has taken his game to another level in his age-32 season. Last year, Peterson allowed 6.3 yards per target and a passer rating of 78.7 when targeted. For context, check out how Peterson’s high level of play compared to that of 2021 first-team All-Pro Jalen Ramsey.
So far, Peterson has improved by allowing 6.2 yards per target and a passer rating of 63.7 when targeted. Before we surrender to the numbers, let’s not forget that Peterson was badly beaten for a 75-yard touchdown to rookie Christian Watson on Minnesota’s very first defensive play of the season against Green Bay, but Watson bobbled the pass.
For all the collective success that opposing offenses are having by attacking Minnesota’s secondary so far this season, that blood certainly isn’t on Peterson’s hands.
But just like offensive line play, the secondary is only as good as its weakest link(s). And, in an eerie similarity to Zimmer’s final defense in Minnesota last year when teams picked on both Bashaud Breeland and Mackensie Alexander, opposing offenses have identified Chandon Sullivan and Cameron Dantzler as their favorable matchups.
Last season, Breeland allowed 8.8 yards per target and a passer rating of 109.0 when targeted. Alexander was behind that with 9.3 yards per target and a passer rating of 119.2 when targeted. And things have only gotten worse for the two defensive backs who have since replaced them in Minnesota.
So far this year, Sullivan is allowing 9.9 yards per target and a passer rating of 130.3 when targeted. Out of 64 NFL corners who have played at least 75 coverage snaps, Sullivan has the 12th-highest passer rating allowed.
Unfortunately for Minnesota, his defensive-backfield partner Dantzler isn’t playing much better. Dantzler is allowing 9.7 yards per target and a passer rating of 123.0 — which is 15th-highest amongst the aforementioned 64 corners throughout the league.
Unless both Sullivan and Dantzler step up their play in a serious way, it shouldn’t be too difficult for 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. to see a prominent role once he’s healthy.
But before we force Sullivan and Dantzler to shoulder all the blame for Minnesota’s anemic efforts against the pass so far this season, let’s bring it back to the front four. For all the good that Smith has brought in his first season in purple, Danielle Hunter has been equally M.I.A. when getting after quarterbacks.
Like Smith, Hunter has one sack through three games. But at least Smith is getting near the quarterback. Hunter’s inability to create consistent pressure has played a role in Minnesota’s secondary being exposed to start the year. Out of 57 edge rushers throughout the NFL that have played at least 60 pass-rush snaps, Hunter ranks 38th with seven total pressures in 2022.
Hunter’s 7.1% pressure rate is second-lowest among Minnesota’s front, with Harrison Phillips the only player with a lower pressure rate at 3.9%.
For all the buzz around Smith and Hunter forming one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league this season, it’s time for the former All-Pro and oft-injured Hunter to live up to expectations — because Smith has certainly done his part.
The Vikings had their best day of the season against the run in Week 3. Although the Lions controlled the time of possession, approximately 34 minutes to the Vikings’ 26, Minnesota stood strong by allowing just 3.9 yards per carry throughout the day.
Minnesota’s efforts against the run will definitely be necessary when they head to London to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 4. Since 2020, the Saints have the eighth-most rushing yards in the league with 127.5 yards per game. The Saints are averaging 5.5 yards per carry this season, third-most in the NFL.
Whether it’s defending Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, or even Taysom Hill, Donatell’s defense will need to play assignment football against a Saints offensive line led by three-time All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk and three-time Pro Bowler guard Andrus Peat.
Although folks are quick to point out Minnesota’s shortcomings against both the run and the pass so far this year, Donatell and the defensive staff need to be commended for their performances in crunch time. The Vikings haven’t given up a single point in any of the three fourth quarters this season, which certainly plays a big part in Minnesota being a top-10 defense at the moment in points allowed.
Shoot, Minnesota’s offense had four drives in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles that reached Philly’s 27-yard line or beyond. Instead of ending up with a goose egg on those four possessions, Minnesota could realistically be 3-0 right now if they simply executed inside the red zone on Monday night.
So although the yardage totals aren’t where Skoldiers would like them to be in the opening month of the season, the defense is giving the team an opportunity to win in every single week thus far with their timely fourth-quarter stops. And that’s something that hasn’t (realistically) been said around here in a few years.
