Vikings Land in Back Half of Top 10

No. 7 (down 3 spots): NFL Staff – Bleacher Report

It seems odd to say that a 10-3 team has problems. But the Minnesota Vikings have very real problems.

Sunday against the Lions, Minnesota’s beleaguered defense allowed a whopping 464 yards of offense. It marked the fifth consecutive game that the Vikings have allowed over 400 yards — the longest streak in franchise history. After the latest collapse, the Vikings have the worst defense in the entire NFL.

After the defeat, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’ Connell told reporters that changes could be coming on that side of the ball.

“I think it’s a combination of some things,” O’Connell said. “But I think we need to take a look at what we can do to potentially help our guys be in a position to make more plays, be a little bit more aggressive possibly, but ultimately I think we need to generate more [pass] rush, however we do it. And then just try to limit explosives. And what that looks like, it’s a variety of things, but I think if we’re doing our jobs effectively, we’ve got to take a look at it to try to improve our football team.”

Gary Davenport thinks it may be too little, too late.

“The Vikings have been living dangerously for some time,” he said. “It’s rare for a team to have a record as good as Minnesota’s while being outscored and outgained. It’s also probably not sustainable, and we’re starting to see that. The Vikings are going to win the NFC North. But their defensive deficiencies are going to keep them from making a deep run in the postseason.”