Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores during the NFC Wild Card matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams on January 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings sit at 3-2 heading into Week 7 after resting on their bye this week.
While it has been a bit of a rocky road for the team so far, one thing is certain: the Minnesota Vikings defense has remained elite. As the Vikings prepare to host the Philadelphia Eagles, here is a look at where Minnesota ranks defensively through the first third of the regular season.
Team Defense
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) hauls in a reception during first-half action against the Minnesota Vikings. The play unfolded on Sep. 8, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, where Odunze’s athletic grab added a highlight to the early stages of the divisional battle as both teams looked to establish momentum in the NFC North contest. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
Total Defense
Points Allowed per Game: 19.4 (5th)
Total Yards Allowed per Game: 289.8 (6th)
Plays per Game: 59.6 (13th)
Yards Allowed per Play: 4.9 (8th)
First Downs Allowed per Game: 17.4 (7th)
Takeaways per Game: 1.4 (9th)
Overall PFF Grade: 66.4 (16th)
EPA/Play: -0.13 (2nd)
There’s no question that much of the Vikings’ success so far this season has been carried by their defense. Once again, Brian Flores has this group working as a top 10 unit despite injuries to players like Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel. The one difference is they haven’t been as good as forcing turnovers. Five of their seven takeaways this season came during the Bengals game, inflating that number a little bit.
Pass Defense
Completions Allowed per Game: 18.0 (T-3rd)
Pass Attempts Against per Game: 27.6 (30th-most)
Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 157.6 (2nd)
Net Yards Allowed per Pass Attempt: 5.2 (4th)
Passing First Downs Allowed per Game: 7.2 (1st)
Passing TDs Allowed per Game: 1.0 (4th)
Interceptions per Game: 0.4 (T-22nd)
Sacks per Game: 2.6 (11th)
Pass Rush PFF Grade: 69.2 (19th)
Coverage PFF Grade: 65.6 (8th)
EPA/Pass: -0.35 (1st)
Run Defense
Carries Against per Game: 29.4 (8th-most)
Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 132.2 (24th)
Yards Allowed per Carry: 4.5 (23rd)
Rushing First Downs Allowed per Game: 8.2 (26th)
Rushing TDs Allowed per Game: 0.8 (T-13th)
Fumbles Recovered per Game: 1.0 (T-1st)
Run Defense PFF Grade: 62.8 (23rd)
EPA/Run: 0.05 (T-25th)
The Vikings’ defense has seen a bit of an inverse of the success from what we’ve seen over the past few years. Despite cornerback and safety being positions serving big question marks in the offseason, Minnesota’s pass defense has been elite all season even if their sack numbers aren’t quite in the top 10 yet. However, where they have struggled so far this season is run defense. Typically, Flores’ defense has been able to stuff the run on a regular basis, but that has not been the case so far in 2025.
Individual Players
Sep 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates a sack during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
OLB Jonathan Greenard
Solo Tackles: 8 (T-321st)
Tackles for Loss: 4 (T-36th)
QB Pressures: 18 (T-38th)
Sacks: 1.0 (T-113th)
PFF Grade: 75.6 (25th among 80 EDGEs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
OLB Dallas Turner
Solo Tackles: 8 (T-321st)
Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-118th)
QB Pressures: 7 (T-141st)
Sacks: 1.0 (T-113th)
PFF Grade: 59.7 (60th among 80 EDGEs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
DT Jonathan Allen
Solo Tackles 9 (T-288th)
Tackles for Loss: 1 (T-230th)
QB Pressures: 9 (T-110th)
Sacks: 0
PFF Grade: 49.7 (74th among 82 DTs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
DT Jalen Redmond
Solo Tackles: 9 (T-288th)
Tackles for Loss: 4 (T-36th)
QB Pressures: 11 (T-85th)
Sacks: 3.0 (T-30th)
PFF Grade: 75.0 (15th among 82 DTs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
LB Eric Wilson
Solo Tackles: 18 (T-110th)
Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-118th)
Forced Fumbles: 2 (T-5th)
PFF Grade: 54.4 (53rd among 71 LBs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
LB Ivan Pace
Solo Tackles: 23 (T-48th)
Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-118th)
QB Pressures: 9 (T-110th)
Sacks: 1.0 (T-113th)
PFF Grade: 45.5 (62nd among 71 LBs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
CB Byron Murphy
Solo Tackles: 18 (T-110th)
Tackles for Loss: 0
Passes Defended: 2 (T-110th)
Interceptions: 0
PFF Grade: 52.9 (76th among 92 CBs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
CB Isaiah Rodgers
Solo Tackles: 14 (T-172nd)
Tackles for Loss: 2 (T-118th)
Passes Defended: 2 (T-110th)
Interceptions: 1 (T-24th)
Forced Fumbles: 2 (T-5th)
PFF Grade: 82.2 (T-4th among 92 CBs with min. 150 defensive snaps)
S Josh Metellus
Solo Tackles: 19 (T-89th)
Tackles for Loss: 0
Passes Defended: 3 (T-60th)
Interceptions: 1 (T-24th)
PFF Grade: 74.3 (15th among 76 safeties with min. 150 defensive snaps)
S Theo Jackson
Solo Tackles: 10 (T-254th)
Tackles for Loss: 0
Passes Defended: 0
Interceptions: 0
Forced Fumbles: 1 (T-16th)
PFF Grade: 65.8 (T-33rd among 76 safeties with min. 150 defensive snaps)
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via NFL Next Gen Stats, Pro Football Focus, Pro Football Reference, and nfeloapp.com.
Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey
