Three offensive players had grades that exceeded 80. Of players that took at least half of the offensive snaps (71 total), three had grades below 60, which is considered average on PFF’s scale of 1-100.

Only one player exceeded that threshold on defense, and only two players who played at least half the snap counts had grades higher than 70. Four players, including three starters, were graded below 60.

Minnesota Vikings highest-graded offensive players (min. 35 snaps)

Key PFF Stat: 4.38 yards per route run by Addison; 3.56 by Hockenson

Related: Kevin O’Connell Fans Flames on Daniel Jones to Minnesota Vikings Rumors

Just a beautiful throw by Sam Darnold pic.twitter.com/q8u2gg2UAt

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 25, 2024

Vikings lowest-graded offensive players

Key PFF Stat: 11 of 12 quarterback pressures were allowed by these three players.

Highest-graded defensive players (min. 38 snaps)

Related: Former Vikings Cornerback Claimed by Panthers

Key PFF Stat: Greenard and Smith had five “stops” each, accounting for 10 of the defense’s 27 total stops. PFF categorizes “stops” as tackles that constitute an offensive “failure.”

Here is the all 22 angle of Caleb’s sack in OT. He absolutely cannot take that there but I hate this call. A 3 man route concept against drop 8 that only works one side of the field. The Vikings caught them here. Caleb can’t extend to other side bc no one is there. Still needs to… pic.twitter.com/0BBAkCZOns

— Bears Blog Boy (@TommyK_NFLDraft) November 25, 2024

Lowest-graded defensive players

Key PFF Stat: Two total “stops” between Cashman and Grugier-Hill. Cashman entered the game with at least two stops in every game he played this season.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Injury Update: Latest News on Darnold, Robinson and Pace Jr 

Other notable grades and stats

• Despite only catching two passes for 27 yards, PFF was kind to Justin Jefferson. His 67.1 grade ranked sixth among qualifying players on offense.
• DT Jonathan Bullard notched five stops on 31 snaps. Much has been made about the Vikings lacking a dominating presence on the interior defensive line, but Bullard has been a force against the run this year. He finished with a grade of 74.2.
• The Vikings’ run game found most of its success running outside. The Vikings ran off the left and right ends (outside the tight end) 11 times, picking up 85 yards. Their other 15 runs picked up 41 yards.

The 2018 1st round pick had a lackluster performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 10, and the offense needed him to bounce back against a much more formidable defense than what he struggled against just seven days ago.

Sam Darnold has a bounce-back game vs Titans

Kind of like what we saw vs the Detroit Lions in week 7, after he struggled in London vs the New York Jets last month, Darnold bounced back and executed the Vikings offense effectively against the Titans on Sunday, completing 20/32 passes for 246 yards and two passing touchdowns.

Darnold also added a rushing touchdown on a QB sneak in the second quarter. Not only did he look better throwing the ball, but on multiple occasions, Sam Darnold channeled his inner Fran Tarkenton to extend plays. On a third down to finish the first quarter, Darnold escaped pressure and found receiver Trent Sherfield Jr. for a 16-yard completion.

Let Sam Darnold cook! pic.twitter.com/FD4lSHCm3H

— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) November 17, 2024

Later in the drive, Darnold again evaded pressure on 3rd-and-7, scrambling for a six-yard gain. The Vikings converted the ensuing 4th-and-short, and the drive culminated in the rushing touchdown mentioned above.

Darnold’s mobility helped him avoid negative plays. He was sacked twice in 11 total pressures, an 18.2 pressure-to-sack-rate (P2S%), tied for his third-best mark of the season. This kept the Vikings out of 3rd-and-long situations, which plagued the team in their loss to the Rams last month.

PFF loved Darnold in week 11

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), no one performed better than quarterback Sam Darnold. He posted a career-high 90.8 PFF grade (90.4 pass grade), miles better than anyone else on the Vikings offense. The closest was RT Brian O’Neill, who came out with a 74.5 offensive grade.

#Vikings top-5 and bottom-5 OFFENSIVE @PFF grades against #Titans:
Top-5:
1. QB Sam Darnold: 90.8
2. RT Brian O'Neill: 74.5
3. TE Jonny Mundt: 71.6
4. WR Justin Jefferson: 68.4
5. C Garret Bradburry: 66.7

Bottom-5:
1. RB Aaron Jones: 29.7
2. WR Jalen Nailor: 36.6
3. RG Dalton… pic.twitter.com/LZn3eEE5wA

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) November 18, 2024

Related: Minnesota Vikings Open as Tepid Week 12 Favorite vs Bears

As good as his day was, it could have been even better. PFF tallied five drops by Vikings receivers, none more significant than a 46-yard bomb that went right through the hands of Jalen Nailor. Securing the catch would have given the Vikings a three-score lead early in the fourth quarter, essentially icing the contest.

This not being a TD still has me hot man 🤦‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/4TVEXBTUjd

— Drac☔️ (@angeldra33o) November 18, 2024

Darnold was also credited with one fumble, which occurred when a toss to Aaron Jones slipped through the running back’s hands and was recovered by the Titans. Darnold almost fumbled in the fourth quarter, when taking a sack, but officials ruled that he had possession, when his knee went down, before losing control of the ball.

Let’s give the Minnesota Vikings interim QB1 his flowers

Overall, it was one of his cleanest games of the season, after Sam committed six turnovers over the previous two weeks. This was all done against a Titans defense that has allowed the fewest passing yards of any team all season.

Related: Should Minnesota Vikings Fans Be Worried About Dallas Turner?

Many fans are still waiting for the former third-overall pick to return to the 1st round bust everyone remembers from his Jets and Carolina Panthers days. While he has had moments of questionable decision-making, Darnold continues to demonstrate that he can quarterback the Vikings’ offense at a high level.

Had they not turned the ball over twice inside the red zone, the Vikings would have blown out the defending Super Bowl runner-ups. One way to judge football players in 2024 is with Pro Football Focus grades. Some live and die by it. Others don’t believe in PFF, at all.

Whatever you believe, PFF is a widely trusted tool that allows us another way to assess the Minnesota Vikings. As of today, I’m a huge Pro Football Focus guy, because the grades make me feel good. More than likely, head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores are too.

PFF grades are very friendly to Minnesota Vikings

Monday Night Football hasn’t been played yet, at the time this article was written. But as of now, the Vikings hold the 3rd highest overall PFF grade in the NFL. Not just Sunday, but on the season, through two games. KOC’s offense ranks 4th, Flores’ defense ranks 6th.

After months of having it drilled into our brains that the 2024 Minnesota Vikings were going to be a bad football team, it’s almost difficult to adjust expectations so quickly, when the shift is this extreme.

In two weeks, we have gone from EVERYONE picking the purple to finish at the bottom of the division, to them being in the top-10 of many power rankings and ranked a top-3 team by PFF. Will it last? The haters say no.

Related: Brock Purdy Confirms: Vikings’ Defensive Scheme under Brian Flores.. “Man, it’s Crazy”

But as long as the Vikings play well, and Sam Darnold stays within himself, it looks like they can compete with just about anyone. So far, the Vikings’ best players on offense, according to PFF, are Christian Darrisaw and Sam Darnold. On defense, PFF loves Harrison Smith and Andrew Van Ginkel, among others.

Originally a major question mark, Minnesota’s defense now looks like a strength. And if that remains the case, going forward, it will give Darnold a lot more room for error, as he and KOC continue to get more and more on the same page.

So, how did the Vikings really perform? ProFootballFocus has just dropped their Week 1 grades, which are a go-to for fans and analysts alike when assessing team and player performances. The verdict? They’ve got some great news for the Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings second highest ranked teams in PFF grades after week 1

The Minnesota Vikings currently hold the second-highest team grade, excluding the teams playing on Monday Night Football. They earned an overall grade of 84.5, placing just behind the Seattle Seahawks, who posted an impressive 91.3 PFF grade.

PFF Team Grades

1. Seattle Seahawks – 91.3
2. Minnesota Vikings – 84.5
3. New Orleans Saints – 82.8
4. Detroit Lions – 78.8
5. Dallas Cowboys – 76.3

The Minnesota Vikings not only secured the second spot in the rankings this week, but several standout individual performances also played a key role in their strong overall team grade.

PFF also selected their Player of the Game from the Vikings vs. Giants matchup, awarding the honor to QB Sam Darnold. They described him as “clinical from a clean pocket,” which played a big role in his impressive grade this week.

Minnesota Vikings Offense PFF Grades

After Week 1, PFF ranked Blake Brandel as the 5th best overall run and pass blocker in the league. Sam Darnold took the top spot as the best quarterback, while Aaron Jones led the pack among running backs.

In his debut as a Viking, Sam Darnold went 19-for-24, racking up 208 yards and tossing 2 touchdowns. At the same time, Aaron Jones made a strong impression in his first game in purple, rushing for 94 yards on 14 carries and adding a touchdown.

Came out swinging in the 2nd half.@jalennailor

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/W1Rznq8oEj

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2024

It wasn’t just the offense that played a key role in the game, the defense also had a strong showing, contributing significantly with several impressive performances that made a real difference on the field.

Minnesota Vikings Defense PFF Grades

1. Andrew Van Ginkel – 90.6
2. Harrison Smith – 90.4
3. Ivan Pace Jr. – 82.2
4. Harrison Phillips – 80.3
5. Josh Metellus – 80.2

Related: Win Over Giants Launches Vikings Up Major Power Rankings

Van Ginkel earned the 10th highest overall defense ranking in the league after Sunday’s games, with Smith close behind at 11th. On top of that, Van Ginkel also claimed the top spot in the coverage category.

Both Smith and Van Ginkel snagged interceptions to kick off their seasons, with Van Ginkel returning his for a defensive touchdown. That big play might have been a key factor in boosting his grade this week.

.@AndrewVanGinkel ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/XFx58RvTIt

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2024

Minnesota Vikings off to great start

The Minnesota Vikings have started their 2024-25 season with a promising performance, despite entering with low expectations. This strong beginning could give the team a confidence boost as they head into Week 2, where they will face the San Francisco 49ers, last season’s runner-up, in their home opener.

They’re coming off of a 7-win season, with plenty of questions surrounding their roster, especially at QB. So it’s no shock to see that they have plenty of doubters. That remains true over at the popular (and somewhat controversial) Pro Football Focus website.

What does PFF say about the Minnesota Vikings’ chances in 2024?

The NFC North could send two teams to the playoffs but PFF does not project the Minnesota Vikings is not to be among them. And as mentioned, PFF isn’t their only doubter. Sportsbooks have their odds to win the division DRASTICALLY worse than all three of the other rivals, even Chicago, who relying on Caleb Williams to make their offense go.

Per @PFF, here's the #Vikings playoff percentages for the 2024 #NFL season:
💥Projected chance to make playoffs: 32.46%
💥Projected chance to win division: 13.74%
💥Projected chance to win conference championship: 3.78%
💥Projected chance to win Win Super Bowl: 1.68% pic.twitter.com/738LVo81Mq

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 8, 2024

The Lions’ numbers make sense, and most would say the Packers’ projections are fine too. But those Bears, man. That’s a lot of belief in a rookie QB leading a roster that wasn’t all that much better than the Vikings’ last season.

Sam Darnold can impact the Minnesota Vikings’ odds

Minnesota’s defense leaves plenty to be desired but Brian Flores has just as much to work with this season, as he did last. And he got to hand-pick more of this year’s group, too.

The quarterback position is an unknown factor for the Vikings, but again, while Sam Darnold and (eventually) J.J. McCarthy are a substantial deviation from Kirk Cousins, both are massive upgrades over Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall and Josh Dobbs. Darnold has not been good in his previous stops, but he’s never had Kevin O’Connell or weapons like what he has here.

Related: Wait… Sam Darnold Threw How Many Interceptions at Vikings Minicamp?!

Darnold possesses talent worthy of a first round selection. His situations haven’t fostered a real level of growth. He has never had better offensive weapons, and O’Connell is arguably the greatest coach Darnold has seen.

If the Vikings see success at the quarterback position, their season changes dramatically. Odds now aren’t going to reflect unknown performance. So if you believe that this is a resurrection season for Sam Darnold, then you may want to head for your nearest border. If you’re right, your optimism could pay dividends in 6 months.

Kirk Cousins pressure stats in 2023

But there is more to offensive line production than how often the QB takes a hit. Yes, Kirk leads the league in the amount of times he’s been knocked down.

Related: Most of the Country will be Watching Vikings vs Chiefs on Sunday

He also ranks 3rd, out of all starting quarterbacks, for time in the pocket (2.7 seconds), which tracks the amount of time, on average, that a QB spends between the ball being snapped and him passing or feeling pressure and 4th of all QB’s in the amount of blitzes he faces.

The eye test, at times, along with Kirk Cousins’ high pressure numbers, might tell us that the Vikings’ offensive line is struggling. A closer look, however, tells a different story. The o-line’s individual PFF grades are rather impressive, all things considered.

What are the PFF grades for Vikings offensive line?

Vikings Offensive Line ranked near top of NFL

Ben Baldwin (Computer Cowboy on Twitter) put together a composite offensive line rating that uses the three most trusted sources in judging o-line performance, PFF (40%), SIS (40%) and ESPN pass/run block win rate (20%).

Related: Two Key Wins in 2023 Would Make Kirk Cousins the 5th QB in NFL History to Defeat All 32 Teams

Where do the Minnesota Vikings rank, according to the Computer Cowboy, you ask? Go ahead and rub your eyes, pinch yourself… whatever.

Through four weeks of the NFL season, the Vikings rank #6 in composite pass block rating and #6 in composite run block rating. Both are actually down from week 3, when the Vikings ranked #4 and #5 in the NFL, respectively.

Run block composite ratings

The Eagles are *dominating* this pic.twitter.com/lWyvjClz1O

— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) October 4, 2023

If these offensive line rankings were based strictly on one of the three rating systems, Minnesota being ranked so high wouldn’t be as shocking. But to see them ranked in the top-6 for both run and bass block, in a composite rating like Baldwin’s is downright jarring.

Dare to hope…?

While I’m not here to enshrine the 2023 Minnesota Vikings offensive line into the Ring of Honor just yet, the positive development on the offensive line should give fans hope. Kirk Cousins leads the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns, Justin Jefferson in receiving yards. And now, the Computer Cowboy is telling me the offensive line is way better than average?

Related: Minnesota Vikings game today: TV schedule, channel, and more

If Dalton Risner can make the front-5 even better and Cam Akers brings a flash of lightning to the backfield, maybe…. just maybe…. the Vikings can perform a historic turnaround yet this season and make the 14-team playoff field.

Calm down, calm down… let’s just fix the chronic turnover issue and go from there.

More Minnesota Vikings offensive line statistics:

How many sacks has the Minnesota Vikings offensive line allowed in 2023?

The Vikings offensive line has allowed 10 sacks through four games, 17th most in the NFL.

What is the Minnesota Vikings allowed sack percentage in 2023?

The Vikings offensive line has surrendered sacks on 6% of offensive plays in 2023, good for 15th best in the NFL.

How many QB pressures have the Vikings offensive line allowed?

The Minnesota Vikings have 52 total QB pressures allowed on the season (PFF).

How many times has the Minnesota Vikings offensive line allowed a QB hit?

Vikings offensive linemen have allowed 18 QB hits in 2023 (PFF)

After an incredible 2021 season, the 6-4, 340 lb entered 2022 with the highest NFL expectations of any player on the Gophers’ roster. And John Michael exceeded all of them, cementing himself as the best center in college football, all but guaranteeing him an early selection in April’s NFL Draft. On Wednesday, he was honored by Pro Football Focus (PFF), who named him a 1st Team All-American.

PFF’s All-Amercia Team: Offensive edition⭐️ pic.twitter.com/2zk6I51RtJ

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 30, 2022

PFF Loves John Michael Schmitz

Schmitz’ 92.4 offensive grade at PFF is the best of any center in the country but it’s not even his most impressive metric on the site. In 2,945 career snaps, Schmitz has allowed just 2 sacks, 15 hurries and 21 pressures, committing only 10 penalties in the process. His 98.8 efficiency score is nearly impossible.

This is the first of many accolades John Michael will receive over the next couple of months, as the college football season comes to a conclusion.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Brevyn Spann-Ford honored too

Two other Minnesota Gophers found their way into the hearts of Pro Football Focus this season. (RB) Mohamed Ibrahim was named a 3rd Team PFF All American and Brevyn Spann-Ford was listed as an Honorable Mention.

Ibrahim’s 89.1 overall grade was good for 9th among NCAA running backs. Spann-Ford graded out at 90.5, which landed him 5th among qualied tight ends. According to Darren Wolfson (SKOR North), NFL agents are recommending that Brevyn declare for the draft a year early.

It doesn’t seem like Spann-Ford is in a hurry to leave Dinkytown, however, and reportedly loves being a Gopher. So, he’s up in the air. His decision could be one of the most important roster moves of the offseason.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

A once-vaunted Gopher defense has struggled to find its footing vs worthy offensive opponents like Illinois and Penn State. But the biggest issues have come on offense, where Minnesota has struggled to move the ball through the air vs Big Ten teams not named Michigan State.

Counting conference games only, the Gophers rank 9th in the Big Ten in scoring, 8th in touchdowns and 8th in average YPG. The offensive struggles do not originate in the run game, however, where Mo Ibrahim & Co rank 4th in average rush YPG and TDs.

Gophers’ passing attack doesn’t attack.

The obvious problem with Minnesota’s offense is in the pass game. Through 5 conference contests so far this season, Tanner Morgan & Co rank 13th in the Big Ten for average pass yards per game (172.0) and 12th in touchdowns (4).

The #Gophers have 88 yards of total offense since their two scoring drives.

They seem very content with their 14-0 lead.

— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) October 29, 2022

You read that right, the Gophers have played more conference games this season than they have thrown passing touchdowns. Those are the kind of numbers that drag down, not just an entire offense, but an entire program.

Don’t tell that to Pro Football Focus, though. Because, for whatever reason, PFF is bullish on the Minnesota Gophers in all facets, grading them a 94.9 overall. That’s good enough for the 3rd best grade in the entire country, behind only Ohio State and Michigan.

Minnesota’s defensive grade at PFF, a 90.2, is impressive. But the their overall grade is actually buoyed by its offense, which grades out at an incredible 94.0, also good for 3rd-best in the country. That offensive grade includes an 86.1 passing grade. The same air attack that ranks 13th (of 15) in the Big Ten passing yards per game, has an 86.1 PFF passing grade. How is that even possible?

PFF Loves Tanner Morgan

Well, it starts with Pro Football Focus’ apparent affinity for starting quarterback, Tanner Morgan, who has started four of the five conference games the maroon and gold have played this season. His overall offensive PFF grade so far this season? A 91.3; the best of his long career and good for 6th-best in the country among QBs.

I do not know exactly how PFF puts their quarterback grades together but Tanner Morgan, after seven games played this season, is ranked 11th in the Big Ten in passing yards per game. Again, PFF is portraying an entirely different Minnesota football team, especially through the air, than what we have seen with our own eyes, or even what the statistics and results show.

Wide Receiver struggle

Where everyone agrees the Gophers struggle, however, is at wide receiver. Clay Geary, who’s probably the 4th receiver on the depth chart, is the only active WR who grades out on PFF higher than a 67 overall.

This makes sense (finally) because it’s well known how poorly the receivers have played since Chris Autman-Bell went down with an injury. It’s been so bad that PJ Fleck has all but given up on stretching the field with deep passes.

Can you blame him? Minnesota’s best deep threat, Michael Brown-Stephens, has 7 receptions when targeted on deep routes this season. The defense has 5 interceptions in those situations.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Nobody inside of the Vikings organization, specifically Mike Zimmer, wanted to see Alvin Kamara score six touchdowns on their defense again. But unfortunately, their effort to build back their high-level (or even competent) run defense has been dramatically unsuccessful through six games.

The Numbers

With or without Michael Pierce, who’s spent half the season injured and who’s unlikely to play again Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings have LOOKED especially bad against opposing rush attacks for most of the season. Through six games, Minnesota’s defense has yet to hold an opposing team under 100 yards rushing. And with Dallas in town this weekend, that streak will likely continue.

Here are some other defensive rankings/statistics that will depress you. where the Vikings rank as a team for run defense.

• 17th in opponent rush attempts per game (26.7)
• 26th in rushing yards allowed per game (128.0)
• 29th in yards allowed per rush attempt (4.8)

The Dallas Cowboys are coming to US Bank Stadium for Sunday Night Football and there’s no doubt they’ll run the ball. They’ve been trampling all over opposing defenses this season and, if he plays, Dak Prescott isn’t expected to be anywhere near 100%. Ezekiel Elliott (521 YDS, 5 TD, 5.1 YPC) has led the way but backup, Tony Pollard (366 YDS, 1 TD, 6.0 YPC), has looked even better than Zeke at times.

Together, they’ve been borderline unstoppable.

• 3rd in rush attempts per game.
• 2nd in rush yards per game.
• 3rd in rush yards per attempt.

But, there’s hope.

Sensible thinking would tell us that Minnesota will struggle to stop the Dallas’ run game on Sunday night but there’s reason for optimism. Zimmer’s new run defense has underperformed so far, but they’ve gotten better as the year has gone on.

It doesn’t look like Michael Pierce will play but Anthony Barr practiced in full on Thursday, meaning he should be on the field for only the second game in a row. But even without Pierce, the Vikings defense has improved their defense every week.

In the last few games, the Vikings defense has been on the field less, partially because they have forced more 3rd downs and forced stops on most of them. PFF says they’ve steadily improved in all defensive categories, as the season has progressed. That includes tackling, pass rush and coverage. They’ve raised their overall grade from the 50’s and 60’s in weeks 1-5 to the high 70’s and low 80’s the last two weeks.

But their rush defense grade, specifically, has improved on itself every single week. Quite interesting.

Everything about the #Vikings defense has improved as the season has gone on but (per @PFF) the run has been a specifically smooth curve upward.

53.6 – wk 1
56.9 – wk 2
57.0 – wk 3
62.7 – wk 4
68.0 – wk 5
79.4 – wk 6

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 29, 2021

The Horses

The Minnesota Vikings have the horses to stop the run and play good overall defense, even without Michael Pierce. And as we’ve seen with the improving numbers, Rick Spielman’s offseason quest can’t be judged quite yet.

Dalvin Tomlinson is known for his ability to stop opposing running backs. He’s 6’3″, 315 pounds and has never had a season where PFF graded his rush defense less than 70. For three of his five seasons, he’s hovered around an 80 grade. For context, there are only six defensive tackles in the NFL above an 80 run grade this season.

If Michael Pierce has to sit out and Armon Watts gets the start again the Vikings should be alright. He’s been forced into the starting lineup the last two weeks and the defense has still continued its trend upward. Watts is having a career year. We’ll see if his production (36 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 FF and 18 QB hurries) is sustainable.

It’s about time the run defense starts to produce

The second level of the Minnesota Vikings defense needs to be better too. Anthony Barr has only played in two games this season and doesn’t have a tackle for loss since 2019. He needs to stay healthy and play better if he wants to get another payday this offseason.

Eric Kendricks has also been largely disappointing too, given what the expectations he’s set. His 64.9 PFF grade against the run ranks 49th out of 82 qualified linebackers. That’s not good enough.

The talent needed to stop opposing rush attacks are on roster and they’re being led by a defensive mastermind, in Mike Zimmer. There is no reason this group should be near the bottom of the league in any defensive rushing categories.

It won’t be easy, but if they can slow down the Dallas Cowboys in primetime on Sunday night, the Vikings probably move to 4-3 on the season and I’ll bet others start to recognize the same improvement all of the numbers already show.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan