Despite 0-2 Start, Positive Changes Could Lead To Vikings Turnaround

The Minnesota Vikings may be 0-2, but they received a break Sunday when the Lions, Packers and Bears all lost their Week 2 games. The NFC North may not be the best division in the NFL, and that plays into the Vikings hands after falling short against the Bucs and Eagles.

Playing on Thursday night has given the organization an early opportunity to do a bit of self-assessment, and while there are clearly some things to fix, there are some things that are going well and that head coach Kevin O’Connell can build on.

The first thing the Vikings can depend on is their passing game – which is exactly what was expected before the start of the season. The Vikings are 8^th in yards per game and 2^nd in passing yards with 337.0 per game. Those numbers make nothing but sense, considering the array of weapons the team has at the receiver position.

Justin Jefferson is probably the best receiver in the league, and he looks like he can make big plays on an every-week basis. He caught 11 passes for 159 yards against the Eagles, and Philadelphia’s intention was to keep Jefferson in check. If he can have a game like that against one of the best defensive teams in the league, it doesn’t look like anyone will stop him.

Jefferson has the kind of help from tight end T.J. Hockenson, rookie Jordan Addison and unheralded K.J. Osborn to give the Vikings the opportunity to make big plays through the air in every game. Give Kirk Cousins credit for his ability to find his receivers and deliver pinpoint passes.

Through the first 2 games, the Vikings have actually shown improvement in their pass defense. This area has been a weak spot for the past 3 seasons, and while it is not yet a strength that they can depend on, there has been some positive developments.

The Vikings rank 17^th in total yards allowed, and that’s a big improvement from the team’s performance last year when Minnesota had the 31^st-ranked defense. The pass defense is quite a bit better than it was last year, as the Vikings rank 8^th overall, allowing just 170.0 passing yards per game.

The most encouraging aspect of the pass defense is the pressure provided by defensive end Danielle Hunter, who already has 4.0 sacks. He had one sack in the opener against the Bucs and 3.0 against Philadelphia’s solid offensive line. Cornerback Akayleb Evans has 3 passes defensed, and he is sharp and alert in coverage.

It would be too early to say the Vikings can sustain their pass defense, because the Eagles had so much success running the football they didn’t have to concentrate on making plays through the air. Philadelphia did whatever it wanted on the ground, gaining 259 yards on 48 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. D’Andre Swift did most of the damage with 175 rushing yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

The rushing numbers allowed were similar to what is regularly seen in college football, when a team like Michigan or Ohio State goes up against an overmatched non-conference opponent. The Minnesota run defense ranks 29^th in the league, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores has to figure something out quickly.

As bad as the Minnesota run defense has been, the lack of the team’s own running game is equally troubling. The Vikings have rushed for 69 yards in two games, with Alexander Mattison leading the way with 62 yards while averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

The Vikings are dead last in the league by a wide margin. The Steelers have the second-worst running game as they are averaging 48.0 yards per game – 13.5 more yards per game than the Vikings.

O’Connell made the point throughout the offseason that the elevation of Mattison as the No. 1 running back over the departed Dalvin Cook would be beneficial to the Vikings. O’Connell tried to make the point that while Mattison was not the breakaway threat that Cook was, he would do a better job between the tackles and he wouldn’t have as many 0-yardage or negative plays.

That theory appears to be nothing but hot air at this point. Instead of the balanced offense the Vikings had in previous years, the only thing they can do is throw the football.

There are still 15 games remaining to turn things around, but a loss to the Chargers Sunday could prove to be disastrous. Only 6 teams that started the season 0-3 have made the playoffs in NFL history, and the Vikings do not want to put those numbers to the test.

It’s time for the run defense and the running game to step up and give the Vikings a degree of balance on both sides of the ball.