Five Vikings stats that stand out for Week 3

Each week, beat guy Matt Vensel will highlight five Vikings stats that really mean something.

one — complete pass thrown beyond 10 yards by Matt Cassel this season.

Cassel didn't complete a single pass beyond 10 yards in the 30-7 loss to the Patriots, according to ESPN Stats and Info — well, unless you count the three caught by the other team, but we wouldn't advise you do that. Through two games, the Vikings QB is just 1-for-13 for 18 total yards on passes thrown at least 10 yards downfield. That continues a troubling trend from a season ago, when he completed just 46.4 percent of his throws beyond 10 yards, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

2.8 — yards per carry for the Vikings in Sunday's loss without you-know-who.

With star running back Adrian Peterson deactivated, the Vikings struggled to run the ball against the Patriots. Matt Asiata got the start and rushed for just 36 yards on 13 carries. The Vikings as a team averaged 2.8 yards per carry and their longest run was a 13-yard scramble by Cassel. The biggest difference came after contact. The Vikings had just 26 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. Peterson had 34 by himself in Week 1 — and that was an off day for him.

eight — quarterback pressures allowed by Matt Kalil through the first two games.

Kalil has allowed two sacks and eight total pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, the most on the team. Those numbers aren't exactly becoming for a former fourth overall pick and a player who is counted on to protect the quarterback's blind side. Kalil was beaten twice by Patriots pass rushers — and that's not including Kalil's whiff on the blocked field goal — for sacks and allowed four other pressures. As a result, Kalil is PFF's lowest-graded NFL offensive tackle.

It's early, but the Vikings defense has been much better on third down in 2014. In 2013, the Vikings allowed opponents to convert 44 percent of their third-down opportunities, which ranked 30th in the NFL. This season, under new head coach Mike Zimmer, the Vikings have been much improved. Sure, they have been aided by some early-down penalties, but their opponents have converted just nine of their 28 third-down opportunities. That 32 percent conversion rate ranks sixth in the NFL.

1.73 — yards allowed by Captain Munnerlyn per coverage snap in the slot in 2014.