It’s Time for the Vikings Defense to Win One
Christian Stoinev
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The story of the 2021 Minnesota Vikings has very much been about the shortcomings of the offense. Much of the scrutiny has been well deserved, and yet not much has been said about the Vikings defense. Let’s not forget that a majority of the offseason acquisitions were made to boost up a defense that was not good last year. While the offense has failed to be as explosive as many believed it should be, they statistically do rank amongst the best offenses in the league, and they have also managed to win some games following a defensive let down. They have allowed the defense to play with a lead in all of their games this season. The Vikings are the only team in the league to have led in all of their games by at least a touchdown this year.
If we look back at some of their games (like the Detroit game for example) there’s no doubt that the offense took their foot off the gas and let the game slip away against a still winless Detroit Lions team; however, the defense also didn’t close the game out. They had their chances and although the offense put them in a bad spot following an Alexander Mattison fumble down the stretch, good defenses are supposed to be able to be relied on in spots such as these, and make a stand, especially against a Jared Goff led offense. After a Lions touchdown, it was the offense who bounced back and drove down for the eventual game-winning 54 yard Greg Joseph field goal.
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In the Vikings next matchup, a Week 6 game against the Carolina Panthers, very much of the same happened. The offense got a lead and the Vikings defense couldn’t hold it. The Panthers were pinned inside their own five yard line with just around two minutes left in the game; they were down by eight points with Sam Darnold leading the offense. The Panthers managed two 4th-down conversions. Once the Vikings defense allowed the touchdown, they couldn’t shut the door with a 2-point conversion stop.
Following this defensive catastrophe, the offense drove down the field to set up a potential game winning field goal and missed. At that point, it felt very much like a literal coin flip game that was going to come down to whichever offense got the ball first in overtime. It ended up being the Vikings who won the toss, and drove down the field for the eventual game winning touchdown grab by K.J. Osborn.
The most obvious example of the defense not stepping up comes following their week 7 bye week vs. the Dallas Cowboys. The offense without a doubt deserved to be criticized for putting up 16 points. However, the headline coming into this game was that the Cowboys were without their starting quarterback, Dak Prescott, which meant that this was an opportunity for the defense to make a statement. The lack of offensive production by the Vikings overshadowed the defense failing to make that statement against a backup quarterback. Cooper Rush had a couple turnovers in this game, but led the Cowboys down the field for the game-winning drive with just under a minute left in the game. He put up 325 yards passing on this Vikings defense to go along with 2 touchdown passes.
There has no doubt been several games where the Vikings offense has lost them the game, but there have been opportunities where the defense could have won them those games and they have folded.
This week will be another opportunity for the defense to step up and win one. A good team has balance, so it’s time for the defense to pull their weight and win this game for the Vikings. Their Week 11 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers features future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who we all know, is a nightmare to deal with. However, Aaron Jones will be out for the Cheeseheads in this one, which leaves them with backup running back A.J. Dillon, and the Vikings seem to be getting Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, and Patrick Peterson back this week. The Packers defense is one of, if not the best in the league, so the offense will have a battle on its hands.
These are the games where a top defense steps up and wins the game. It’s time.
