Somewhere down the long list of shortcomings for the Vikings defense during Sunday's 31-24 NFC wild-card playoff loss to the Giants was the pass rush's inability to pressure the quarterback consistently enough.
The Vikings had three sacks on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who was hit only once outside of that despite attempting 35 passes and evading the rush and scrambling even more. Jones added 78 rushing yards on 17 carries, which were a mixed bag of dodging pass rushers and QB keepers on run options.
Jones' mobility led to a quiet game from edge rushers Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter, who were introduced together as the final player intros before the second Vikings playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
"We talked about it throughout the week," coach Kevin O'Connell said. "We wanted to try to keep him in the pocket, wanted to try to get a rush and change the game with some of our playmakers up there. But not let him get out and have an impact. He had some impact on designed runs as well."
Hunter had two hits (one sack) on Jones, amounting for all of the damage between the Vikings' dynamic duo. Smith was shut out less than a month after he and Hunter combined to hit Jones seven times in the Vikings' Dec. 24 win over the Giants. Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell didn't blitz much, relying on the four-man rush. But Hunter's only sack came when linebacker Eric Kendricks blitzed in the third quarter, leading to the Giants' first punt of the game.
Hunter, who led the Vikings with 10½ sacks this season, declined interview requests afterward, as did backup edge rusher D.J. Wonnum. Smith was quickly out the door.
'It's been special'
The Vikings have 15 players scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in March, meaning those players could have played their last game for Minnesota on Sunday. Running back Alexander Mattison spent four years with running back Dalvin Cook and fullback C.J. Ham. He fought back tears on Sunday night talking about the uncertainty ahead.
"It's been special," said Mattison, who has nearly 2,200 yards from scrimmage in 59 games for the Vikings. "It hit me after the game just understanding the potential of it being my last game with this group of guys. I know it's going to be hard for me to kind of deal with and coming to terms with that. But I'm super grateful for my time in the running back room and with leaders like Dalvin and C.J."