Now that they are eight games into the 2017 NFL season, how has the Minnesota Vikings’ offense performed so far?
After the first week of the season that began with an easy victory over the New Orleans Saints, the outlook for the Minnesota Vikings’ offense looked very promising. Especially since they were able to gash the Saints’ defense for 470 total yards and 29 points.
That was also the last game in which Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford played for all four quarters. Following an impressive performance against the Saints (346 passing yards, three touchdowns), Bradford has missed six of Minnesota’s last seven games with a knee injury.
The quarterback tried to get back out on the field in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. But it became obvious very quickly that Bradford playing hurt was doing more bad for the team than good.
So in his place this season has been Case Keenum. Signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, the Vikings likely did not expect to have Keenum start a game for them at any point in 2017.
However, Minnesota really had no other quarterback options with Bradford out and Teddy Bridgewater still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. So Keenum has been the team’s starter in six of the Vikings’ eight games this season.
Keenum has had one very good performance so far this year when he threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns during a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. But other than that, his play has been pretty mild for the most part as a starter this season.
But the quarterback also has not really been asked to carry the offense on his back this year, which has had an impact on his statistics. All Minnesota really expects out of Keenum is to not turn the ball over and find ways to keep the offense out on the field.
The Vikings’ quarterback has definitely benefitted from the team’s running game that is vastly improved from a season ago.
With a bunch of new pieces up front on the offensive line and Pat Shurmur getting a full offseason to implement his entire offense into the team’s playbook, Minnesota is currently the NFL’s 13th-best rushing offense in terms of yards per game.
The resurgence of their rushing attack began this year with rookie running back Dalvin Cook leading the way. In his first three weeks this season, Cook averaged 123.3 yards per game, caught 10 passes, and scored one touchdown.
But the excitement surrounding the rookie proved to be short-lived, as he ended up tearing his ACL in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions and will not be back out on the field until next year.
Despite Cook being lost for the season, the Vikings’ rushing attack has stayed strong.
Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray have combined to help the team average 132 yards on the ground since Week 5. Interestingly enough, Minnesota averaged 115 rushing yards per game from Week 1 to Week 3 with Cook as their starter.
Along with their improved run game, Keenum has also been helped out a lot this year by the Vikings’ talented pass catchers.
The trio of Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Kyle Rudolph have combined for 107 catches, 1,321 yards, and eight touchdowns this season. Even receivers like Laquon Treadwell and Jarius Wright have stepped up and made plays when needed.
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With his NFC-leading 628 receiving yards so far this season, Thielen has a real chance to become the first Vikings player to finish a year with at least 1,000 yards receiving since Sidney Rice did so back in 2009.
Aside from the personal performances going on in Minnesota’s offense this year, their offensive line may be the most impressive offensive position group of them all.
The Vikings offensive line has only allowed their quarterbacks to be sacked 10 times this year. Even this amount is a little skewed since four of these sacks came in the first half of Minnesota’s Week 5 matchup with the Bears when a hobbled Bradford was moving around less in the pocket than a mannequin.
To put into perspective of how much better the Vikings’ offensive line is compared to season ago, at this time in 2016, Minnesota quarterbacks had already been sacked 21 times.
Next: Vikings' top 3 plays from Week 8 win
The Vikings are not asking their offense to go out and put up 40 points each week. But if they can continue to get consistent play from their quarterback (no matter who is starting), their rushing attack, and their offensive line, Minnesota’s success in 2017 should go well beyond the regular season.