3 silver linings from the Vikings loss to the Packers in Week 17

Minnesota’s defense wasn’t horrible

While the Vikings lost 41-17 a lot of those points weren’t due to the performance of the team’s defense, and they actually played decently, especially in the first half.

The Packers had 14 points due to a kick return touchdown and a Darnell Savage pick-six. So this unit only gave up 27 points and some of those were also because of horrible field position caused by the turnovers of the offense.

The Vikings’ defense held Aaron Rodgers to 159 yards passing with one touchdown. They ended up statistically not faring too well against the run as the Packers ran for over 160 yards but a lot of those came in the fourth quarter when the defense was gassed for being on the field so much because of the offense’s inability to sustain drives.

The Vikings defense forced the Packers to punt on their first drive. This was ultimately blocked by Josh Metellus, and the offense took over at the one-yard line. They couldn’t cash in that fat check and had to settle for three points instead.

Later in the first quarter, Dalvin Tomlinson had a beautiful strip-sack of Rodgers that set the offense up. Again they failed to convert the opportunity throwing the interception that was returned to the house. The Vikings haven’t been able to play complimentary football recently and it reared its ugly head again in the Packers game.

The Vikings’ defense is nowhere near great. They’ve had their struggles all season long but they gave the offense some chances early in this game, and if they can do the same in the playoffs, and the offense can cash them in, they shouldn’t have too hard a time advancing to the second round.