Here’s Where the Minnesota Vikings Offense Ranks through Week 17
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings claimed their ninth consecutive win and their 14th of the season by defeating the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
A big reason for that was their terrific offensive performance, and the unit put together 27 points against a Packers defense that had held opponents to fewer than 20 points in six of their last seven games. Now, heading into the final weekend of the regular season, here is a look at where that explosive Vikings offense ranks.
Team Offense
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Total Offense
Points per Game: 26,4 (9th)
Total Yards per Game: 352.3 (12th)
Plays per Game: 62.0 (16th)
Yards per Play: 5.7 (12th)
First Downs per Game: 21.2 (9th)
Turnovers per Game: 1.31 (19th)
Third Down Conversion Percentage: 41.2% (11th)
Fourth Down Conversion Percentage: 60% (13th)
Red Zone TD Percentage: 59.6% (10th)
Overall PFF Grade: 81.4 (5th)
EPA/play: 0.04 (12th)
By limiting turnovers and putting together a very efficient passing scheme, the Vikings have blossomed into one of the best offenses in the NFL over the past couple of months. Minnesota has not had multiple turnovers in a game since Week 10, which really has sparked this nine-game winning streak that the Vikings are riding into Week 18.
Passing Offense
Completions per Game: 21.6 (13th)
Pass Attempts per Game: 31.7 (21st)
Passing Yards per Game: 243.8 (5th)
Net Yards per Attempt: 7.0 (7th)
Passing TDs per Game: 2.19 (5th)
Interceptions per Game: 0.75 (T-17th)
Passing PFF Grade: 83.8 (5th)
Pass Blocking PFF Grade: 70.5 (14th)
Receiving PFF Grade: 84.8 (3rd)
EPA/pass: 0.15 (10th)
Rushing Offense
Carries per Game: 27.4 (T-11th)
Rushing Yards per Game: 108.4 (19th)
Yards per Carry: 4.0 (28th)
Rushing TDs per Game: 0.56 (29th)
Fumbles Lost per Game: 0.56 (T-18th)
Rushing PFF Grade: 74.8 (24th)
Run Blocking PFF Grade: 67.0 (14th)
EPA/run: -0.12 (23rd)
Despite Aaron Jones having a solid season out of the backfield, it has become pretty clear that the Vikings are once again a very one dimensional offense in terms of production. Kevin O’Connell certainly has dedicated more time to running the ball this season, but it has come with mixed results. The Vikings have not totaled 125 rushing yards in a game since Week 10, and especially heading into the playoffs, that rushing production will need to be a bit better.
Individual Players
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QB Sam Darnold
Completions: 343 (9th)
Pass Attempts: 504 (12th)
Completion Percentage: 68.1% (9th)
Passing Yards: 4153 (4th)
Yards per Attempt: 8.2 (4th)
Passing TDs: 35 (5th)
Interceptions: 12 (T-4th-most)
PFF Grade: 85.8 (T-5th among 32 QBs with min. 300 dropbacks)
RB Aaron Jones
Carries: 245 (9th)
Rushing Yards: 1093 (10th)
Yards per Carry: 4.5 (20th)
Rushing TDs: 5 (T-29th)
PFF Grade: 74.8 (18th among 35 RBs with min. 125 carries)
WR Justin Jefferson
Targets: 145 (5th)
Receptions: 100 (7th)
Receiving Yards: 1479 (2nd)
Receiving TDs: 10 (T-5th)
PFF Grade: 90.0 (4th among 98 WRs with min. 40 targets)
WR Jordan Addison
Targets: 93 (45th)
Receptions: 62 (44th)
Receiving Yards: 875 (32nd)
Receiving TDs: 9 (T-9th)
PFF Grade: 75.2 (30th among 98 WRs with min. 40 targets)
TE T.J. Hockenson
Targets: 54 (T-109th)
Receptions: 39 (T-106th)
Receiving Yards: 446 (101st)
Receiving TDs: 0
PFF Grade: 76.3 (6th among 35 TEs with min. 35 targets)
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and nfeloapp.com.