The Minnesota Vikings are the surprise story in the NFL so far in 2024. They are 3-0 and have gotten there with convincing wins each week, none more dominant than Sunday’s 34-7 trouncing of the Houston Texans.
It’s been a total team effort on both defense and offense for the Vikings, as the organization has managed injuries to starters thanks to their stars shining and some unsung heroes jumping up.
Here are some observations and takeaways after analyzing Sunday’s snap counts for the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings’ Snap Count Totals in Win Over Houston Texans
Offensive Snap Counts
Garrett Bradbury, C: 63 (100%)
Blake Brandel, G: 63 (100%)
Ed Ingram, G: 63 (100%)
Sam Darnold, QB: 61 (97%)
Brian O’Neill, T: 60 (97%)
Christian Darrisaw, T: 57 (90%)
Justin Jefferson, WR: 57: (90%)
Jalen Nailor, WR: 54 (86%)
Johnny Mundt, TE: 51 (81%)
Aaron Jones, RB: 38 (60%)
Josh Oliver, TE: 31 (49%)
Brandon Powell, WR: 27 (43%)
Ty Chandler, RB: 22 (35%)
Trent Sherfield Jr., WR: 15 (24%)
C.J. Ham, FB: 12 (19%)
David Quessenberry, T: 9 (14%)
Trishton Jackson, WR: 5 (8%)
Robert Tonyan, TE: 3 (5%)
Nick Mullens, QB: 2 (3%)
Defensive Snap Counts
Cam Bynum, S: 67 (100%)
Josh Metellus, S: 67 (100%)
Byron Murphy, CB: 60 (90%)
Blake Cashman, LB: 54 (81%)
Harrison Smith, S: 52 (78%)
Shaq Griffin, CB: 47 (70%)
Jonathan Greenard, LB: 46 (69%)
Stephon Gilmore, CB: 45 (67%)
Andrew Van Ginkel, LB: 41 (61%)
Jihad Ward, LB: 37 (55%)
Patrick Jones II, LB: 33 (49%)
Harrison Phillips, DT: 33 (49%)
Jerry Tillery, DT: 30 (45%)
Jonathan Bullard, DE: 23 (34%)
Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB: 21 (31%)
Theo Jackson, S: 16. (24%)
Jalen Redmond, DE: 16 (24%)
Taki Taimani, DT: 14 (21%)
Bo Richter, LB: 13 (19%)
Brian Asamoah II, LB: 13 (19%)
Jay Ward, S: 9 (13%)
Special Teams Snap Counts
Kamu Grugier-Hill: 19 (73%)
Jay Ward: 19 (73%)
Bo Richter: 19 (73%)
Theo Jackson: 18 (69%)
Brian Asamoah II: 16 (62%)
C.J. Ham: 16 (62%)
Akayleb Evans: 15 (58%)
Patrick Jones II: 13 (50%)
Josh Metellus: 13 (50%)
Will Reichard: 13 (50%)
Robert Tonyan: 13 (50%)
Blake Cashman: 11 (42%)
Andrew DePaola: 10 (38%)
Ryan Wright: 10 (38%)
Josh Oliver: 8 (31%)
Myles Gaskin: 7 (27%)
Blake Brandel: 6 (23%)
Christian Darrisaw: 6 (23%)
Dan Feeney: 6 (23%)
Ed Ingram: 6 (23%)
Brian O’Neill: 6 (23%)
David Quessenberry: 6 (23%)
Trent Sherfield Jr: 6 (23%)
Jihad Ward: 5 (19%)
Brandon Powell: 4 (15%)
Taki Taimani: 4 (15%)
Jerry Tillery: 4 (15%)
Ty Chandler: 3 (12%)
Cam Bynum: 2 (8%)
Trishton Jackson: 1 (4%)
Johnny Mundt: 1 (4%)
Vikings’ Snap Count Takeaways
Vikings Offense
- From 2018-22, Aaron Jones averaged between 34 and 41.5 snaps and 82.5 scrimmage yards per game. So far in Minnesota, Jones is averaging fewer snaps (33.5) and more scrimmage yards (108.3) per game. Granted, it’s a small sample size, but the numbers still bear examination, and Kevin O’Connell’s ability to create this output deserves commendation. Jones may not be a spring chicken anymore, but the Vikings’ management of his snap share and diverse skill set is generating peak performance.
- The Vikings have been without Jordan Addison for 81 of 109 snaps this season. Everyone from the coaching staff to other players has stepped it up to account for his loss, and the team is undefeated even while missing one of its top weapons. The snap share at wide receiver would indicate, however, that Addison’s return is highly anticipated. Justin Jefferson had a 90% snap share on Sunday and Jalen Nailor came in at 86%, with no other receiver topping 43%.
- We haven’t seen much from reserve offensive linemen for Minnesota, but what we have seen tells us a lot. David Quessenberry is the lone non-starter with any snaps, totaling nine on the season with all of them coming on Sunday against Houston. He filled in for both left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill when they left the field. While the Vikings would prefer to never be without any of their starting linemen, it looks like they at least know who they can lean on in a pinch and, according to one metric below, it looks like that key reserve can answer the bell.
Your Minnesota #Vikings top 5 Offensive graded players according to @PFF for week 3.
1. Justin Jefferson – 78.9
2. Aaron Jones – 78.6
3. David Quessenberry – 74.7
4. Sam Darnold – 73.5
5. Christian Darrisaw – 71.9 pic.twitter.com/vbwUvdJbnC
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) September 23, 2024
Vikings Defense
- The Vikings’ defense plays with unselfishness, and numerous players have made significant contributions, all of which have generated a brand of football that is the antithesis of hero ball. Even so, there are two particular members of the defense who seem to fly under the radar despite playing significant roles and seeing significant time: inside linebacker Blake Cashman and safety Josh Metellus. On Sunday, Cashman played 54 of 67 defensive snaps (81%) plus 11 of 26 (42%) special teams snaps. Metellus had a 100% snap share on defense and added 13 more special teams snaps.
- Starting inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was inactive on Sunday, but reserve defender and core special teamer Kamu Grugier-Hill was quite active. Grugier-Hill, the one-time Texan, saw his first snaps of the season on defense. He came away with a 31% share and made the most of the opportunities, intercepting C.J. Stroud on the first official play of the game (following an offensive penalty on Houston which negated the first play) and collecting three tackles and another pass breakup.
- For the first time this season, someone other than Stephon Gilmore led the Vikings’ cornerbacks in snap share. On Sunday it was Byron Murphy Jr., who was on the field for 60 of 67 (90%) snaps. This is a nuance of Sunday’s defensive performance that bears monitoring because Gilmore logged a season-low 67% snap share against Houston while Murphy’s performance was graded as uneven with the additional snaps.
#Vikings LOWEST graded players vs. Texans
-CB Byron Murphy Jr. (32.6)
-EDGE Jihad Ward (40.4)
-TE Josh Oliver (42.7)
-LB Brian Asamoah II (49.6)
-IDL Harrison Phillips (50.5)
-EDGE Patrick Jones II (50.9)
-RB Ty Chandler (52.8)
-LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (53.7) pic.twitter.com/n6LW96VlY3— Tanner Weber (@Purple_Post) September 23, 2024