7 biggest takeaways from the Vikings win over the Bears in Week 5
By Adam Patrick
Minnesota might have a decent offensive line
It feels like the Vikings have been attempting to build a competent offensive line for almost a decade. Well, five games into the 2022 season, Minnesota might actually have an offensive line that is more than competent.
Against the Bears on Sunday, Vikings offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, and Garrett Bradbury didn’t allow a single pressure according to PFF. Yes, you read that correctly. Bradbury allowed zero pressures during Minnesota’s win over Chicago.
Now, the right side of the Vikings’ offensive line did allow a few pressures on Sunday as right tackle Brian O’Neill gave up two and rookie right guard Ed Ingram allowed three. But the fact that more than half of Minnesota’s offensive linemen didn’t allow an opposing defender to put pressure on Kirk Cousins this past weekend is a tremendous step in the right direction.
The Vikings’ new offensive scheme and new coaching staff have completely transformed the team’s offensive line this year. These changes have Darrisaw (third), Bradbury (10th), Cleveland (11th), and O’Neill (14th) all among the 15-best graded blockers by PFF in their respective position groups so far this season.
We were hoping that Minnesota’s new coaching staff could help the offensive line take some slight steps in the right direction this year. But the Vikings have already transformed this unit into something that is emerging as a possible strength of the roster.