StaTuesday: Vikings secondary against top opposing receivers

Published

Xavier Rhodes has gotten some attention for his play this year at cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings. But really, the entire Vikings secondary has been good.

Pro Football Focus has two Minnesota defensive backs on its Pro Bowl picks, and neither is Rhodes. Instead, the website has safety Harrison Smith and cornerback Terence Newman, who is still going strong at age 38 and leads the NFL in yards per snap in coverage, according to PFF, at 0.60.

Even in Minnesota's game against Jacksonville this past weekend, cornerback Trae Waynes was given one of the higher defensive grades for the Vikings by Pro Football Focus.

Not that Rhodes' attention isn't deserved; his opponent passer rating is 46.9.

It should be no surprise then that Minnesota has fared well this season against its opponent's top wide receiver.

Ten times this season the Vikings have held the opposing No. 1 wide receiver to under their average catches per game and eight times under the yards per game. Detroit's Golden Tate in particular has presented a problem for Minnesota, but beyond that few have excelled.









































































































































































































































































































 

A couple of quick notes on the above: We used the top wide receiver, not tight end (which made a difference for Tennessee, Carolina and Chicago) as often linebackers cover tight ends and this is more about the Minnesota secondary.

And, yes, Dez Bryant is not the leading receiver for Dallas, either in receptions or catches per game.

Also, for the Bears, we used Alshon Jeffrey over Cameron Meredith. While Meredith has more receptions this season, Jeffrey has a higher catches per game (but for those interested, Meredith only had one catch for 24 yards vs. the Vikings).

This season, Minnesota has allowed 250-plus passing yards in a game just three times: 261 (Giants), 260 (Redskins) and 250 (Titans), while holding an opponent to under 200 yards on five occasions.

Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players from the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns