Vikings Statistical Rankings Through Week 6: Offense
Josh Frey
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Week 6 of the NFL season is officially behind us.
The Vikings were able to win their second game of the season this weekend by defeating the Chicago Bears by a score of 19-13. By doing so, they improved their record to 2-4, putting themselves half a game behind the Green Bay Packers for second in the NFC North.
Today, we will be breaking down the Vikings statistical rankings on offense through Week 6 as a whole, and where individual players stand. Shout out to Pro-Football-Reference, Pro Football Focus, and nfeloapp.com for the numbers that went into this article. Stay tuned for the defensive rankings later today as well.
NOTE: PFF Grades are sorted to include players with at least 20% of dropbacks, carries, or targets.
Team Offense
Total Offense
- Points Scored: 129 (T-14th)
- Total Yards: 2032 (11th)
- Plays: 363 (22nd)
- Yards per Play: 5.6 (T-6th)
- First Downs: 116 (15th)
- Turnovers: 13 (Most)
- Penalties: 30 (T-3rd-fewest)
- PFF Grade: 78.4 (5th)
- Total EPA/play: -0.07 (T-16th)
The Vikings simply cannot shake the turnover problems. They finally won the turnover battle in Week 6 by forcing three takeaways against the Bears, but another lost fumble leaves Minnesota alone at the top of the turnover list.
For the first time this year, Minnesota also falls out of the top five in terms of yards per play. They are now tied for 6th alongside the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. A game where they averaged just 4 yards per play against one of the worst passing defenses in the league will certainly cause that.
Passing Offense
- Completions: 158 (1st)
- Pass Attempts: 235 (2nd)
- Net Passing Yards: 1582 (3rd)
- Net Passing Yards per Attempt: 6.3 (10th)
- Passing First Downs: 81 (3rd)
- Passing TDs: 14 (2nd)
- Interceptions: 4 (T-16th-most)
- Passing PFF Grade: 79.5 (6th)
- Pass-Blocking PFF Grade: 76.5 (3rd)
- Receiving PFF Grade: 69.5 (T-15th)
- EPA/pass: -0.09 (22nd)
Rushing Offense
- Carries: 113 (32nd)
- Rushing Yards: 450 (27th)
- Yards per Carry: 4.0 (20th)
- Rushing First Downs: 20 (T-31st)
- Rushing TDs: 0
- Fumbles: 9 (Most)
- Rushing PFF Grade: 66.8 (26th)
- Run-Blocking PFF Grade: 80.1 (1st)
- EPA/run: -0.17 (T-21st)
Let’s take a minute to appreciate the Vikings offensive line. After years of scrutiny, this group is top-three in pass protection per PFF, and they are the very best run-blocking group by that same metric. The run-blocking is especially ridiculous considering the Eagles are 2nd at 74.8. The Vikings are in their own stratosphere at the top.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t translated to much success. Alexander Mattison continues to get work as a bell-cow back, but the Vikings are among the bottom of the league in carries, rushing yards, and yards per carry. It’s an anomaly that may never be completely explainable.
Individual Players
QB Kirk Cousins
- Completions: 158 (1st)
- Pass Attempts: 235 (1st)
- Passing Yards: 1679 (2nd)
- Yards per Attempt: 7.1 (12th)
- Passing TDs: 14 (T-1st)
- Interceptions: 4 (T-15th-most)
- Passing First Downs: 81 (3rd)
- PFF Grade: 80.5 (9th among QBs)
RB Alexander Mattison
- Carries: 82 (14th)
- Rushing Yards: 320 (19th)
- Yards per Carry: 3.9 (26th)
- Rushing TDs: 0
- Rushing First Downs: 11 (T-37th)
- PFF Grade: 57.1 (53rd among RBs)
WR Justin Jefferson
- Targets: 53 (T-11th)
- Receptions: 36 (T-11th)
- Receiving Yards: 571 (6th)
- Receiving TDs: 3 (T-10th)
- Receiving First Downs: 28 (7th)
- PFF Grade: 89.9 (4th among WRs)
WR Jordan Addison
- Targets: 34 (T-52nd)
- Receptions: 22 (T-54th)
- Receiving Yards: 277 (50th)
- Receiving TDs: 4 (T-4th)
- Receiving First Downs: 12 (T-54th)
- PFF Grade: 64.0 (60th among WRs)
WR K.J. Osborn
- Targets: 31 (T-62nd)
- Receptions: 17 (T-85th)
- Receiving Yards: 214 (71st)
- Receiving TDs: 2 (T-27th)
- Receiving First Downs: 11 (T-62nd)
- PFF Grade: 52.3 (91st among WRs)
TE T.J. Hockenson
- Targets: 47 (T-17th)
- Receptions: 36 (T-11th)
- Receiving Yards: 304 (41st)
- Receiving TDs: 2 (T-27th)
- Receiving First Downs: 16 (T-29th)
- PFF Grade: 65.4 (T-17th among TEs)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.