The Minnesota Vikings had another low-scoring slugfest of a preseason game, but this time, it ended in a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 action.
Minnesota's preseason game once again came down to the defense, which allowed 242 total yards, and the Ravens went 5-of-15 on third down. The Vikings' offense struggled to run the ball, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry.
Despite the loss, plenty of winners came from the game, along with a few losers. Here is a look at who won the day and who has some things to work on.
Minnesota Vikings Winners and Losers from Preseason Loss to Baltimore Ravens
Winner: Tai Felton - WR
Felton continued his red-hot summer and carried it on the field. He climbed the ladder to catch a 51-yard pass from J.J. McCarty that was thrown behind him. The final stat line for Felton had three receptions for 66 players and a 12-yard punt return.
There's no doubt that Felton will make the team and is making a convincing argument to be WR3 over Jauan Jennings. The Vikings might need to run more four-wide receiver sets with Felton in the offense because he has earned the playing time.
Loser: Myles Price - WR
After a nice first week of the preseason, this performance was a bit quiet for Price. He only caught one of his four targets for eight yards. On a fourth-down pass from McCarthy inside the five-yard line, the ball went through Price's hands, and while it was a bullet pass from McCarthy, it probably should have still been caught.
Price probably still makes the roster, as he's been a great returner and had a nice camp. The preseason was still disappointing for him, and I hope he can bounce back.
Winner: Carson Wentz - QB
Wentz has been stuck as the third-string, but he had another nice performance in that role. He made easy completions and rarely threw errant passes. Wentz completed 9-of-11 passes for 92 yards.
There was a lot of pressure in Wentz's face when he played, but he handled it well and protected the football. Should he be stuck as the third-string for long?
Winner: Jacob Thomas - DB
After nabbing an interception in Week 1, Thomas put together another really solid game. His best play came in the fourth quarter with a nice pass breakup on third down inside the 20-yard line, forcing a Ravens field goal. Thomas finished with six tackles and one pass deflection.
Overall, Thomas is really standing out as a top backup defender from the preseason and appears to be more and more of a lock for the roster. His play suggests there may even be a conversation about him starting someday.
Winner: Kenny Dyson Jr. - OLB
The Vikings only got one sack in the game, and it was Dyson who got the job done. He pressured the quarterback and made life tough for the Ravens. Dyson got two quarterback hits, one tackle, one tackle for loss, and one sack.
Minnesota is known for its great pass rushers and developing young defensive players. Dyson looked like a guy who could make an impact on this team.
Losers: J.J. McCarthy - QB
Despite his 50-yard completion to Felton, it was not the greatest overall performance for McCarthy. When he had the Vikings inside the five-yard line, he missed one throw to Felton in the back of the end zone and a wide-open Myles Price on fourth and goal. McCarthy finished 5-of-10 for 81 yards.
Overall, it was another underwhelming performance, and Wentz outplayed him. The conversation around who should be the backup quarterback might get louder with Wentz winning that argument. If the Vikings want to trade McCarthy, it's getting tougher by the game.
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