A Single Element Determines Every Vikings Result
After a sensational start to the season, the Minnesota Vikings currently sit at 6-2, placing them second in the competitive NFC North. The Vikings burst out of the gate with an undefeated record through the first five weeks, showcasing a formidable performance that suggested they were a team with few flaws. However, this promising trajectory took an unexpected turn following their Week 6 bye.
Coming off the bye week, the franchise suffered two consecutive losses, falling to the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams, respectively. These defeats sparked concern among fans and analysts alike, leading many to question whether the impressive performances in the first five games were merely an illusion. Just as doubts began to permeate the narrative surrounding the team, the Vikings managed to secure a victory against the Indianapolis Colts, halting their losing streak.
Despite the rebound, the lingering question remains: what exactly transpired during the losses to Detroit and Los Angeles? The answers may hold the key to understanding the Vikings’ season and their potential trajectory moving forward.
Run Defense
There are many significant factors impacting the Vikings’ lack of success in their losses, such as their propensity for turnovers or their offense’s struggles to capitalize in the red zone. However, perhaps the most alarming issue that has surfaced in their recent losses is the sharp decline in their run defense.
Throughout the season, the Vikings have demonstrated impressive defensive prowess against the run when securing wins, surrendering an average of just 67.3 rushing yards per game, as reported by Pro Football Focus. This success can be partially attributed to their ability to maintain leads, which forces opposing teams to shift their strategies, opting for a more pass-heavy approach in an effort to catch up. Notably, the Vikings have effectively contained some of the league’s top running backs, including the likes of Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor, during these victories.
In stark contrast, the team’s performance against the run in their two recent losses to the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams painted a troubling picture. During these games, the Vikings allowed an alarming average of 125.5 rushing yards per game, effectively doubling the amount they surrendered in their wins. This decline in efficiency was particularly pronounced as the defense struggled to get opposing offenses off the field, leading to extended drives and contributing to the team’s inability to secure crucial stops.
A Trickle-Down Effect
The Minnesota Vikings’ recent struggles against the run have created a ripple effect, impacting nearly every phase of their roster. The consequences begin with their inability to establish a pass rush. When opponents consistently find success running the ball, the Vikings are forced to field personnel focused on containing the ground game, compromising their ability to deploy aggressive pass-rushing formations.
Against both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings shifted to a more conservative shell defense to counteract the run, limiting their usage of the effective Cover-0 scheme that had previously defined their defensive success. This adjustment led to more third-and-short situations for their opponents, forcing the Vikings to abandon their preferred pass-rush packages and making it difficult to generate pressure in passing situations.
This defensive shift also affected the Vikings’ coverage schemes. When an opponent is excelling in the run game, the threat of play-action passing becomes more potent, making it riskier for the Vikings to rely on aggressive man-to-man coverage. To mitigate this threat, the Vikings adopted more zone concepts in these matchups, giving opposing receivers extra cushion at the line of scrimmage.
As a result, both Detroit and Los Angeles took advantage of this space, frequently exploiting the Vikings’ defense with quick screens and play-action plays that forced them onto their heels. Combined with a potent rushing attack, these tactics created significant challenges for Minnesota’s defensive backfield, placing them in a reactive stance and exposing gaps in coverage.
The Vikings’ inability to stop the run also hindered their offensive rhythm. When their defense effectively limits the run, they can force opposing offenses into quick three-and-out drives, granting their own offense more time on the field to find its groove. This control over the time of possession has been a crucial element of Minnesota’s victories.
However, in the games against Detroit and Los Angeles, the Vikings were repeatedly subjected to prolonged, methodical drives from their opponents. These long possessions wore down the defense while simultaneously keeping the Vikings’ offense off the field, disrupting their rhythm and diminishing their scoring opportunities. Forced to play catch-up as the opposing offenses maintained control, the Vikings’ own offensive unit struggled to sustain momentum, contributing to the close losses that emerged after their Week 6 bye.
How Can They Improve Down The Stretch?
As Minnesota enters Week 10 of the 2024 season, they prepare for a Jacksonville Jaguars team that ranks in the bottom half of the league in rushing defense, according to Pro Football Reference. This favorable matchup will provide an opportunity for the Vikings to reestablish their ground game and potentially secure an important win.
Following this game, however, Minnesota faces a tougher test against the Tennessee Titans, a team known for its formidable rushing offense, before taking on the Chicago Bears, another team that ranks in the league’s lower half in run defense. This three-game stretch will be crucial for the Vikings’ defense as they aim to solidify their approach against the run and build on the tactics that worked so effectively against Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts.
Minnesota’s run defense could also receive a major boost with the anticipated return of linebacker Blake Cashman. Cashman was instrumental in fortifying their defensive front before sustaining a turf toe injury that sidelined him for the past two games. Despite his absence, Cashman remains fifth on the team in total tackles, underscoring his impact as a reliable and aggressive run-stopper.
He has shown a knack for meeting running backs at the point of attack, plugging gaps created by the defensive line, and minimizing gains on the ground. Cashman, a free agent acquisition by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his team in the offseason, has been a valuable addition and a key factor in the club’s run-stopping efforts.
Beyond Cashman’s return, the Vikings are also looking for improvements along the interior of their defensive line. While nose tackle Harrison Phillips is in the midst of a career year, the rest of the defensive line has been inconsistent, with players like Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard struggling to provide the necessary support. While expecting significant improvements from these starters may be ambitious, even small gains could help raise the baseline of the team’s run defense.
Additionally, the Vikings could consider giving rookie tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez more playing time. Known for his high motor and aggressive style, Rodriguez specializes as a pass-rusher, but his energy and intensity could make a positive impact against the run should the Vikings feel their starting unit is subpar. If he steps up to provide a spark, his presence could offer the Vikings’ defensive line the extra edge it needs to clamp down on opposing rushing attacks.
Conclusion
As the old adage goes, football games are won in the trenches. This has never been more accurate than for this year’s Minnesota Vikings team. When they succeed in stopping the run, the Vikings are primed for victory. However, when they’re consistently gouged by opposing running backs, it limits their ability to do what they do best — generate relentless pressure on quarterbacks through the aggressive Brian Flores defensive scheme. For the 2024 Vikings, maintaining a consistent, stifling run defense will be essential if they hope to keep their Super Bowl aspirations alive this season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
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