2021 Position Recap: Defensive Line

1. Murray makes it happen

How can a game in which one player (Hunter) notches 3.0 sacks be a “lowest low”?

The Vikings did some things incredibly well defensively at Arizona in Week 2.

Hunter took down mobile quarterback Kyler Murray three times, and the Vikings additionally recorded two interceptions.

Losing a game in which the defensive stat sheet lit up like a Christmas tree was certainly one of Minnesota’s lowest moments.

Blame could be placed on all three phases of the ball, to be sure, including a missed field goal that would have given the Vikings a walk-off win.

But though the Vikings gave Murray plenty of trouble, they still allowed the young QB to find plenty of success.

Murray finished the afternoon 29-of-36 passing for 400 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions with a passer rating of 117.6. Minnesota also allowed Murray to rush for 31 yards and a touchdown.

That outing marked Murray’s only 400-yard performance of the season and was the Vikings poorest performance against the pass.

2. Ravens revved run game

While we’re on the topic, the Vikings put up similar defensive stats against the Ravens in Week 9 but once again fell short, losing 34-31 in Baltimore.

At first glance, it seems like a successful outing – and, in some ways, it was. Richardson (1.5), Watts (1.0) and Willekes (0.5) combined for 3.0 sacks of Lamar Jackson, and the Vikings picked off the quarterback twice (Camryn Bynum and Anthony Barr).

But what the defense did in the passing game, it lacked mightily against the rush.

Minnesota limited Jackson to 266 passing yards but allowed him to rush 21 times for 120 yards. The Vikings also gave up 79 rushing yards to Devonta Freeman and 48 yards a touchdown to veteran running back Le’Veon Bell.