Souhan: For the Vikings, ‘D’ stands for disappointing

The Vikings’ quarterback drama has obscured the surprising cause of their current mediocrity.

They have three losses. All three were the result of defensive lapses.

On Sunday, the Vikings faced an offense that had done little in its previous two games and allowed the previously slumping Eagles skill-position players to produce more big plays than Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The result: a 28-22 Philadelphia victory that moves the Vikings to the brink of desperation.

The Vikings let:

• Jalen Hurts pass for a season-high 326 yards, complete a season-best 79-yard pass and tie season bests with three touchdown throws and an 82.6 completion percentage.

• DeVonta Smith set season highs in catches (nine) and yards (183) and score just his second touchdown of the season.

The Vikings were able to sack Hurts three times, but when he had time, he looked as unbothered as a man playing darts in a quiet pub.

The game was scoreless when the Eagles faced fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 37 in the first quarter. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores called for a three-man pass rush, with inside linebacker Blake Cashman spying — hovering at the line of scrimmage to prevent a quarterback run.

Brown went in motion from right to left, and it looked as if Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who has had an outstanding season, would pick him up. But when Brown went wide, Rodgers stayed inside and took tight end Dallas Goedert, forcing safety Josh Metellus to take Brown.

Safety Harrison Smith stayed in the middle of the field, meaning Metellus would have no help. With seven players in coverage, there is no way Brown should wind up being single covered.

With no pass rush to worry about, Hurts stood in the pocket and waited for Brown to sprint past Metellus, then hit him for a far-too-easy touchdown.

Hurts’ second long touchdown pass was more of a physical mistake. In the third quarter, The Eagles faced second-and-5 from their 21-yard line. Rodgers was lined up across from DeVonta Smith and retreated before the snap. The pass rush did not come close to Hurts. Smith feinted left, then burst deep. Rodgers reacted to the fake and spun around while Smith broke open.

Hurts hit Smith in stride, and Rodgers’ dive failed to trip Smith. That 79-yard touchdown gave Philadelphia a 21-9 lead.

Those plays were a reminder of the defensive lapses that have left the Vikings at 3-3.

Against Atlanta in Week 2, the Vikings front seven allowed Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to carry 38 times for 219 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 22-6 victory.

Against Pittsburgh in Dublin in Week 4, the Vikings secondary allowed Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf to run open over the middle of the field, where he caught an Aaron Rodgers pass and went for an 80-yard touchdown that might have been the difference in that Vikings loss.

Before Sunday, the Vikings had given up three completions of 20 yards in the air or more this season. On Sunday, they gave up three touchdown passes of 20 air yards or more.

In the Vikings’ first five games, they gave up an average of 158 yards passing, with a high of 198. On Sunday, they gave up 316.

This is where you should probably read a quote from the locker room, but, trust me, the defenders had nothing revealing to say. Metellus blamed himself for the Brown touchdown, but he shouldn’t have. Other than that, it was mostly shrugs and sighs.

Flores’ defense is not supposed to be chicken soup for the ailing offenses, but on Sunday the Vikings nursed the Eagles back to health.