The Minnesota Vikings defense was a renaissance unit last year. They finished 13th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense after being one of the worst units in the National Football League the year before.
One of the interesting factors about the 2023 Vikings defense was the poor finish. With the team going 0-4, the Vikings allowed 30 points per game in the final four games marring their excellent season. Part of it was the injury to Byron Murphy Jr. while the coverage shell dropping eight was somewhat solved.
The biggest bright spot for the Vikings was the run defense. They finished eighth in the NFL, allowing 98.7 rushing yards per game. That could be tested this year with the laundry list of running backs the Vikings will have to face.
ESPN conducted a poll talking to coaches, executives and scouts to tank the best running backs in the NFL and the Vikings are set to face seven of them, including Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions twice.
That is going to make things difficult for the Vikings defensive line, especially with the unit being among the NFL’s weakest. Harrison Phillips is a solid player but there are massive question marks outside of him.
They did improve things on the second level with the signing of Blake Cashman who will be a do-it-all player for the Vikings. Is that going to be enough to keep the run defense on that level? The test will be real and only time will tell.
