Minnesota Vikings Preseason: Ups and downs from Week 3

The bad stuff vs. the 49ers

1. The new starting offensive line looks a lot like the old one

Supposedly, the Vikings added some new players to their offensive line during the offseason that would improve their blocking from a season ago. However, it did not seem that way on Sunday against San Francisco.

Minnesota’s offensive line allowed quarterback Sam Bradford to be sacked three times (all in the first quarter) and much work is obviously still needed before the Vikings can feel good about their blockers up front this year.

2. Defense? What is that?

Minnesota’s starting defense definitely did not resemble the NFL’s third best unit from a season ago during Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers. The Vikings’ top defenders allowed San Francisco to rack up 14 points and 167 total yards on their first two offensive drives of the game.

Think Mike Zimmer will have anything to say to his defense this week?

3. Diggs forgets how to catch

Normally, throwing to wide receiver Stefon Diggs is a sure thing for Minnesota’s offense, but this was not the case on Sunday. Diggs dropped two easy first-down passes that landed right in his big mits. Hopefully the preseason is the only time the talented receiver will be dropping any balls.