Film review: Three major problems the Vikings have on defense

Coaches and defenders emerged from the Vikings’ 37-10 drubbing by the Chargers, in which they were outscored by 27 points and outgained by 255 yards, with the continued mantra of getting “back to the basics.”

In two games since the bye week, the Vikings defense has allowed season-worst yardage and scoring outputs. Bye week adjustments to curb a leaky run defense have not produced desired results. A sound-but-unspectacular secondary has now started springing leaks.

Up next: A trip to Ford Field, where the Lions averaged more than 390 yards and 31 points last season while causing two Vikings losses.

“We just got to do the little things very consistently,” linebacker Eric Wilson said. “Everyone has somewhat of a role and you just have to own up to it and do your best.

“Doesn’t matter what it is. Is it tackling? Is it getting off blocks? Is it covering somebody?”

A little bit of everything went wrong during last week’s 37-10 loss to the Chargers, but coach Kevin O’Connell continued to talk about the fundamentals of run defense that evade this expensive and veteran group.

“What are we doing as far as setting edges?” O’Connell said. “What are we doing as far as defeating blocks, playing the cutback and then continuously trying to chase improvement from a tackling standpoint? ... Then allow our defense to set themselves up in [downs and distances] where they can be aggressive in pass-likely situations to try to maybe cause some chaos.”

Even before the dam broke in the second half in Los Angeles, the Vikings run defense was still middling while holding the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley and the Chargers’ Kimani Vidal to modest results over six quarters.

Barkley and Vidal each had success rates of more than 50%, meaning more than half the time they achieved either 40% of needed yardage on first downs, 60% on second downs or 100% on third and fourth downs. It means they often kept their quarterbacks in favorable downs and distances.

Then came the second half in L.A.

Vidal took 12 carries for 93 yards after halftime while salting away an easy victory against the Vikings. It was an all too familiar but unsettling look for fans watching a defense that has dissolved from last year’s top-five run defense to this year’s below-average group.

Problems persist in the first and second levels of the front. Coaches are still making lineup adjustments in search of answers without Andrew Van Ginkel, who has been out since Week 3 because of a neck injury since.

Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s playing time has also decreased after getting $19 million guaranteed on a two-year deal in March. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who got $23 million guaranteed in the same free-agent spending spree, has not been a consistent difference maker.

The Chargers, like the Steelers (and the Lions, Sunday’s foe), enjoy putting the biggest people on the field and running behind them. Even when defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his assistant coaches tried to match heavy personnel with heavy personnel, the Vikings consistently struggled to control the line of scrimmage.

In the video below, you’ll see the first three plays out of halftime: a 7-yard run by Vidal, an 8-yard run by Vidal, and a 9-yard run by Vidal. Each one found some path up the gut of the Vikings defense. The Chargers had two tight ends on the field for each, bulking up with a fullback on the final two. The Vikings stayed in their 4-3-4 base personnel with Wilson dropping to the edge.

Linebacker Blake Cashman appears to over-run the 7-yard gain. The Vikings’ wide alignment vs. L.A.’s seven blockers on the line creates a gap off the left tackle for an 8-yard gain, in which Wilson got cleared out and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. couldn’t close. During the ensuing 9-yard gain, Pace and Cashman are stonewalled against another interior run.

Notable numbers on the Vikings’ run defense via Sports Info Solutions:

Quotation marks are around “blitzes” because coaches will debate what’s considered a blitz in media coverage. But for this purpose, we’ll look at the times Flores has sent five or more pass rushers in these last two losses.

Vikings’ pass defense while sending 5+ rushers

Jalen Hurts’ 15 drop-backs

Justin Herbert’s 18 drop-backs

Not good! The film isn’t much better. When O’Connell said postgame in L.A. that they “got outcoached,” the Chargers’ answers vs. Vikings blitzes were part of that.

This isn’t a blitz getting torched, but a Vikings’ coverage bust despite the Chargers loading up seven in protection in anticipation of Minnesota’s rush.

L.A.’s longest play of the night came when Turner crashed hard inside against a play-action fake. Herbert rolled outside him, bought time and found Gadsden 40 yards downfield after an apparent coverage bust by Metellus. This looks like a standard Cover 2, in which Metellus should be responsible for the deep half that Gadsden occupies. He bites on a shallower route as Herbert rolls his way.

This ended up being a five-man pass rush against seven blockers. Despite the Chargers having just three receivers against six defenders in coverage, they gained 40 yards.

Last year, the Vikings led the NFL with 95 pass deflections that included 24 interceptions (also league-leading).

They’ve seen a precipitous drop in 2025. Minnesota has gone from averaging about 5.5 deflections and picks each week to fewer than 2.5 deflections and picks through seven games this season. Only the Baltimore Ravens (16) currently have fewer pass deflections than the Vikings’ 17.

Even when given opportunities, the Vikings secondary did not cover well in L.A. Take this first-and-10 play in the first quarter for another example. This is just a five-yard penalty because Greenard jumps offsides, but it could’ve been a lot worse.

The Vikings’ deep three defenders — Rodgers, Metellus and safety Harrison Smith — play this like a Cover 3, but no one passes off Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston, the go route, for Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey, the deep crossing route. McConkey drops what could’ve been another 20+ gain.

In the video below, you’ll see another example of the Chargers going back to the same route concept. But the Vikings cover it well downfield from an inverted Cover 2, forcing a 7-yard checkdown in which a 36-year-old Smith is hanging onto a 22-year-old Gadsden’s heels.