{"id":2685,"date":"2016-09-25T20:43:41","date_gmt":"2016-09-26T00:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=2685"},"modified":"2021-03-20T09:44:36","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T13:44:36","slug":"minnesota-vikings-week-three-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/09\/25\/minnesota-vikings-week-three-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Vikings Week Three Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Vikings<\/strong> came into their game this week against the Carolina Panthers<\/strong> as underdogs, despite their 2-0 record. Almost every analyst picked the Panthers to win their 15th straight at home. \u00a0Though most of the first half, it appeared Cam<\/strong> Newton<\/strong> and the Panthers would cruise to an easy victory, leading 10-2 and shutting out the offense. The Vikings’ only points came from a sack in the end zone by Danielle<\/strong> Hunter<\/strong>, resulting in a safety.<\/p>\n

Then, with just over three and a half minutes left in the first half, with Andy Lee<\/a> punting out of his own end zone, Marcus Sherels<\/a><\/strong> returned the punt 54 yards for a score, closing the Panthers’ lead to 10-8 at the half after Blair<\/strong> Walsh<\/strong> missed an extra point.<\/p>\n

In the second half, the team came to play. \u00a0The defense ended with eight sacks (including three by Everson<\/strong> Griffen<\/strong>), a safety, three interceptions and a fumble recovery, all while allowing only\u00a010 points\u00a0to Carolina. \u00a0Aided by a long, well orchestrated drive by Sam<\/strong> Bradford<\/strong>, Kyle<\/strong> Rudoph<\/strong>, Stefon<\/strong> Diggs<\/strong>, and the Offensive Line in the third quarter, the Vikings scored their only offensive touchdown of the game, going on to win 22-10 in an upset.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings Week Three Takeaways<\/h1>\n

A Solution to the Offensive Line Woes<\/h2>\n

Throughout the first half, the Vikings Offensive Line looked as bad as it had through the first two games. \u00a0Then Alex<\/strong> Boone<\/strong>, the starting Left Guard went down with a hip injury. \u00a0Watching Jeremiah<\/strong> Sirles<\/strong> jogging out onto the field, it seemed what had been bad could only get worse. \u00a0Instead, Sirles and second year man TJ<\/strong> Clemmings<\/strong>, starting in the place of injured Matt<\/strong> Kalil<\/strong>, manned the left side of the line very well, working together to keep Bradford clean throughout much of the second half. \u00a0Even if Boone is able to come back healthy next week, the team needs to find a place for Sirles on the starting five.<\/p>\n

The Best Defense in the National Football League<\/h2>\n

If the Vikings are\u00a0not in the conversation for the best defense in the NFL<\/strong>, something is seriously wrong with the conversation. \u00a0Through three games this year, the team is allowing just 13.3 points per game. \u00a0Last year, the historically great\u00a0Denver<\/strong> Broncos<\/strong> defense allowed just over 18 points per contest. \u00a0The team has also amassed a +8 turnover margin, their only giveaway coming on a fumble by the defense following another turnover they produced. The team also has generated two defensive touchdowns and a safety. \u00a0Today, Everson Griffen<\/a>, Brian<\/strong> Robison<\/strong>, Danielle Hunter<\/a>, Linval<\/strong> Joseph<\/strong>, Anthony<\/strong> Barr<\/strong>, and Harrison<\/strong> Smith<\/strong> all sacked Cam Newton<\/a>, bringing the team’s total up to 15 on the year. \u00a0Griffen could have had a fourth sack, if Newton had not thrown the ball up for Defensive Tackle Tom<\/strong> Johnson<\/strong> to intercept. \u00a038 year old Terrance<\/strong> Newman<\/strong> and second year man Trae<\/strong> Waynes<\/strong> also both contributed interceptions from the corner position. \u00a0Backup corner and punt returner Marcus Sherels almost came down with a pick of his own. \u00a0In his first game back, Xavier<\/strong> Rhodes<\/strong> helped the secondary to completely shut down Wide Reciever Kelvin<\/strong> Benjamin<\/strong>, who ended the day with zero receptions and two penalties on one target. \u00a0It was a truly suffocating performance by a defense that is now clearly the best in the league against an offense that leads the league in scoring going back to the beginning of last season.<\/p>\n

Injury Bug Strikes Again<\/h2>\n

This team can not catch a break. \u00a0The team holds\u00a0a perfect 3-0 record, a dominating defense and an offense that has looked explosive at times this season, and yet it seems every day, another key player is ruled out for the year. \u00a0Not a single offensive lineman who finished today’s game was the clear starter coming into the season. \u00a0Matt Kalil<\/a> has been replaced by TJ Clemmings. Boone by Jeremiah Sirles<\/a>. John<\/strong> Sullivan<\/strong> was cut in favor of Joe<\/strong> Berger<\/strong>. Michael<\/strong> Harris<\/strong>, who has been out all season with an undisclosed ailment, was unable to compete with Brandon<\/strong> Fusco<\/strong>. \u00a0Phil<\/strong> Loadholt<\/strong> retired before the preseason, handing the Right Tackle job to Andre<\/strong> Smith<\/strong>. \u00a0Teddy<\/strong> Bridgewater<\/strong> and Adrian<\/strong> Peterson<\/strong> are on injured reserve. \u00a0Sharrif<\/strong> Floyd<\/strong> is out up to six weeks following knee surgery. \u00a0Today, players like rookie Tight End David<\/strong> Morgan<\/strong>, starting Middle Linebacker Eric<\/strong> Kendricks<\/strong>, and the aforementioned Boone all left the game with injuries of various severity. \u00a0Only Kendricks returned to play. \u00a0Frankly, as phenomenal as this team has looked at times so far this year, one questions how much longer they can hold out with so many key players missing.<\/p>\n

Rudolph Earning his Keep<\/h2>\n

In the past two games, since Sam Bradford<\/a> has taken the helm at Quarterback, Kyle Rudolph<\/a> has amassed 10 catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including seven catches for 70 yards and a 15 yard score on 10 targets against the Panthers. \u00a0This averages out to five catches for 50.1 yards and a touchdown per game. \u00a0Over his career he has averaged 2.9 catches for 29.5 yards and 0.35 touchdowns per game. \u00a0Though it is a small sample size, so far the Sam Bradford era has been kind to number 82.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The offense was rarely pretty, Blair Walsh<\/a> missed again, the injuries keep mounting, and yet the Vikings keep winning on the strength of their Head Coach Mike<\/strong> Zimmer<\/strong> and an absolutely dominate defense. \u00a0The Vikings snapped the Panthers’ home game winning streak, proving all the pundits wrong for a second week in a row. \u00a0If anyone deserves to win Coach of the Year after just three games, it’s Mike Zimmer. \u00a0Don’t look now, but the Vikings are on top of the NFC<\/strong>, and show no signs of letting up anytime soon. \u00a0Next week they play the New York Giants,<\/strong> who are coming of their first lost at the hands of Washington<\/strong>, in a Monday Night Game in US Bank Stadium<\/strong>. \u00a0While it is unwise to underestimate any opponent, the team should have plenty of confidence going into a home game against an inferior opponent.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n