Each Wednesday, we highlight five Vikings stats that really mean something.
seven — passes thrown by the Vikings 10-plus yards Sunday
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in Sunday's 38-7 loss to the Seahawks didn't have the confidence or the protection needed to heave the ball downfield. Bridgewater attempted just seven passes that traveled 10 or more yards past the line of scrimmage, according to Pro Football Focus. One would think that with the Vikings trailing by more than 21 points for more than half of the game, Bridgewater would take some shots down the field. Alas, he was 2-for-7 for 35 yards and one back-breaking interception when targeting one of his teammates 10 or more yards downfield.
12 — missed tackles by the Vikings against the Seahawks
The Vikings have been one the NFL's better tackling teams this season, but against the Seahawks, they were whiffing left and right. They missed 12 tackles, their most in a game since the season opener, and 71 of Seattle's 173 rushing yards came after contact. That dirty dozen was more missed tackles than the Vikings had in their previous three games combined, according to Pro Football Focus. Seven defenders missed tackles and middle linebacker Eric Kendricks and free safety Antone Exum had three apiece.
one — catch allowed by Seahawks corner Richard Sherman
The Vikings didn't totally avoid the superstar Seahawks cornerback, but Bridgewater did not test Sherman much and found little success when he did. Sherman followed rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs around for a handful of plays but he spent most of his time at left cornerback, where, as usual, he shut down that entire third of the field. Bridgewater threw into Sherman's coverage area three times, according to Pro Football Focus, and completed one pass for just six yards, to tight end Kyle Rudolph.
413 — rushing yards for Vikings opponents the past three weeks
The Vikings allowed 173 rushing yards against the Seahawks, including 101 to their rookie running back, Thomas Rawls. Rawls was the third straight starting running back to reach 100 rushing yards again them. In the past three weeks, they have allowed an average of 137.7 rushing yards per game after giving up 108.6 in the first nine games of the season. With 413 yards against the Vikings in that three-game span, their opponents have actually out-rushed running back Adrian Peterson and the Vikings, 413-316.
76 — stops for Anthony Barr, Linval Joseph and Harrison Smith
The Vikings did not have Joseph, their standout nose tackle, against the Seahawks and then they lost both Barr and Smith, their versatile outside linebacker and free safety, in the first quarter. They could be without all three against the Cardinals, which would not be ideal. Barr and Joseph rank first on the Vikings in PFF's defensive stops statistic — not to be confused with tackles — with 35 and 26, respectively. And Smith is not far behind with 15. That represents a quarter of the team's stops overall.
