Everything that went right and wrong for the Vikings vs. Packers

Sam Darnold's pass protection was key versus Green Bay

© Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

---

By Matthew Coller

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers by two points but the box score told a different story as the Vikings outgained the Packers 441 to 271 and had the football for 35:30 in time of possession. Let’s take a closer look at how they outplayed the Pack…

What went right

Clean-pocket Sam Darnold

Out of 43 times the Vikings quarterback threw the football against Green Bay, 30 of Darnold’s attempts were without pressure, according to PFF. Darnold completed 26 for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

He also got rid of the ball in 2.37 seconds when he did not have pressure, which demonstrates the connection between the system, weapons, QB’s decision making and pressure. The Vikings receivers were getting open quickly and Darnold was getting the ball to the right places without hesitation.

The short and deep passing game

Another piece of evidence that the system is working and the passing game is humming is when a team is winning in multiple ways. Darnold was successful both pushing the ball downfield and in the quick game.

When he elected to throw the ball over 20 yards in the air, he completed four of five attempts for 99 yards and two touchdowns. The only incompletion was an impressive pass breakup on a 50-50 ball to Jordan Addison.

When throwing the ball under 10 yards in the air, Darnold went 25-of-26 for 194 yards (7.5 yards per attempt). It doesn’t get any better than that in terms of quick-game efficiency.

All the pass-catchers

All three Vikings receivers made a case as having the best game vs. Green Bay. Justin Jefferson, as per usual, led the team in receiving with 92 yards and made an absurd one-handed catch that was taken off the board by a holding call. Jalen Nailor caught all five targets his way, including a explosive touchdown pass. Jordan Addison, caught six of eight targets, including a very impressive route that resulted in a touchdown.

O’Connell talked at length on Monday about Addison’s progression.

“He's able to play through contact, and it's a physical game, not just route running, just his role in the run game and his willingness to do that part of the job has been critical,” O’Connell said. “Finishing plays in the red zone. He's had some unbelievable catches laying out for a few. I mean, even last night he had to go and get that ball, a really well-thrown ball, but kind of a unique play there where he's stopping and then restarting again. Just all the what makes him so special, he puts on display…I commend him for really playing through the early part of the season, even though he wasn't at 100%. And now that he is, you can see his impact.”

The receivers weren’t the only ones making key plays. TJ Hockenson had 68 yards receiving, Aaron Jones had four receptions for 30 yards and CJ Ham and Cam Akers made important grabs on the final drive.

Pass protection, especially Dalton Risner and Cam Robinson

Tying in with Darnold’s clean-pocket passing was the big dudes up front doing their job against a nasty Green Bay front. No Vikings individual lineman allowed more than three QB pressures on Sunday afternoon and center Garrett Bradbury had a bounce-back week with only one allowed.

Dalton Risner, who is now up to the 12th best pass blocking guard in the NFL per PFF, had the highest grade of the day (70.5) and was deemed responsible for only two pressures. It’s now safe to say that the addition of Risner to the lineup has been a massive success for O’Connell.

The two tackles played quality football as well, with Cam Robinson and Brian O’Neill both gave up three pressures and graded solidly.

“I thought the protection was phenomenal,” O’Connell said. “Against a really good, really good active front, both the interior and those guys on the edges. I just once again, [Brian O’Neill] was phenomenal on the right side. And I thought the interior, really, with the challenge that it was, those guys really stepped up. There were some big time moments where we stayed on the field via some conversions where Sam had to hold the ball to get from one to two to three to four, maybe back to three, hitting TJ over the middle on one of those conversions. I just think they were phenomenal.”

Blake Cashman is a superstar

Week after week, Cashman continues to be a driving force of the Vikings defense. Against a team that typically runs the football well and has a bevy of quick-game receiving options, the middle linebacker was on his game, grading the second highest of all Vikings defensive players. He totaled seven tackles with zero missed tackles and three stops for negative plays and 1.5 sacks.

Overall Cashman ranks as the 13th best linebacker in the NFL and has racked up the fourth most pressures. But as good as his grades are in individual areas, they don’t begin to capture his value to the Vikings defense.

Jonathan Greenard rushing the passer

The Vikings’ edge rusher is putting together one of the best edge rusher seasons we have seen in recent memory in Minnesota and a top-five pass rushing performance in the NFL this season. After eight QB pressures against the Packers, Greenard (77) is second only behind Myles Garrett (79) in total pressures.

Greenard was the head of the pass rush snake against Jordan Love, who averaged 4.6 yards per attempt under pressure on Sunday.

Harrison Phillips vs. the run

The Vikings did an admirable job against running back Josh Jacobs, only allowing 69 yards on 17 carries and just one run over 10 yards. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips was at the center of the run defense with three tackles, two of which were for negative Packers plays. He had the highest PFF grade on the defensive side for the Vikings (80.5) and his second highest grade of the year.

What went wrong

Will Reichard’s rough afternoon