Top 5 takeaways from the Minnesota Vikings preseason opener

Defensive Inconsistencies

If you were to just cast your eye over the box score you would probably think that the Minnesota Vikings defense lived up their usual high standards but from watching the tape all isn’t as hunky dory as the stats suggest.

To put it bluntly, the Vikings first team defense looked sloppy at each level and collectively as a unit. The Bills came out throwing on their first 3 downs and completed each attempt to Sammy Watkins (now with the Rams), purposefully picking on the corners playing opposite the newly extended Xaiver Rhodes. I’m all for Rhodes developing into a shut down corner but the Bills made it look very easy by designing their play calls to avoid him.

The Vikings defensive starters also proved to be susceptible to the Bills run game, being gashed for runs of 15 and 17 yards. The Vikings run defensive improved after game divulged into a game between players fighting for roster spots but they still gave up 3 runs of over 10 yards and a 15 yard scramble to the lethargic Nathan Peterman.  Harrison Smith for one wasn’t pleased;

The Vikings operated a bend but don’t break defense for much of Thursday night, given that Buffalo led the league in big plays in 2016 and this was the first competitive action of the year for Minnesota that shouldn’t be too surprising. We should be cautious with our concerns however Minnesota’s defensive performance is something to keep an eye on throughout the preseason. If the Vikings hope to return to the playoffs, they will need their defense to perform at the highest level as it did for the majority of last season.