Best/Worst Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, per PFF
The Minnesota Vikings are off to a 3-0 start after crushing CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans 31-7 in Week 2. This marks the first time the Vikings have started 3-0 since 2016, and it’s not just luck getting them there. They’ve dominated every team they’ve faced so far.
Also, according to PFF, the Minnesota Vikings are the real deal, consistently ranking among the league’s best week after week. Here’s a look at their top performers and struggles from Week 3.
Minnesota Vikings PFF grades after week 3
There’s a Monday Night Football doubleheader tonight, but as of Monday morning, the Minnesota Vikings are sitting as the 4th best team on Pro Football Focus. PFF has given them an overall grade of 82.7, just behind the Steelers, Saints, and Seahawks.
| Vikings (Thru 3 Wks) | Overall | Offense | Pass | Run | Defense | Cov | RushD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFF Grade | 82.7 | 80.6 | 82.1 | 79.3 | 71.7 | 72.9 | 79.8 |
| League Rank | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 8th | 10th | 9th | 1st |
The Minnesota Vikings are currently ranked in the top 10 across every category, which is honestly hard to believe. All offseason, the talk was about how they weren’t expected to be anything special. Now, they’re proving to be one of the league’s best teams.
The Vikings have had some standout performances from individual players this season. Here are the top performers from Week 3 for Minnesota.
Week 3 PFF grades
| Team Rank | Player | OFF or DEF Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Jefferson | 78.8 |
| 2 | Aaron Jones | 78.5 |
| 3 | David Quessenberry | 74.7 |
| 4 | Jonathan Greenard | 73.6 |
| 5 | Sam Darnold | 73.5 |
Interestingly, four of the top five grades went to offensive players, with Jonathan Greenard being the only defensive standout. Greenard had a dominant performance on Sunday, racking up three sacks against his former team, bringing his season total to four and making a huge impact on the defensive line.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Beat Writer Sounding Alarm on Sam Darnold Injury…
Some notable players who didn’t have their best performances on Sunday were Brian O’Neill, Garrett Bradbury, Byron Murphy Jr., Harrison Phillips, and Pat Jones.
| Player | OFF or DEF Grade |
|---|---|
| Brian O’Neill | 60.8 |
| Garret Bradbury | 61.7 |
| Byron Murphy Jr | 32.6 |
| Harrison Phillips | 50.5 |
| Pat Jones | 50.9 |
Byron Murphy Jr.’s grade of 32.6 really catches your eye, especially considering the defense only allowed the Texans to score 7 points. But honestly, I doubt the players are too concerned about their individual grades—they’re likely more focused on winning, and so far, they’ve done just that.
The Minnesota Vikings have surprised a lot of NFL fans this season. With a 3-0 record and ranking among the league’s top teams, they’re looking like real contenders. PFF also seems to mainly agree with that assessment after the first three weeks.
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