The Vikings’ Week 7 win over the Colts came with a mixed PFF report card, and the numbers leaned toward a handful of strong standouts rather than a long list of clean performances. On the offensive side, tight end T.J. Hockenson posted the top grade at 75, with Gavin Bartholomew close behind at 73.5 and Brian O’Neill rounding out the best of the group at 70.6.
The lower end of the offensive grades told a different story. Fullback Max Bredeson finished at 29.5, Aaron Jones Sr. came in at 39.1, and center Blake Brandel checked in at 51.7.
In the rushing grades, Kyler Murray led the way at 75.1, followed by Jordan Mason at 67.2 and Aaron Jones Sr. at 55.3.
The run-blocking numbers were strongest for Benjamin Yurosek, who earned a 69.5, while Hockenson followed at 68.4 and Joe Huber at 63.9. At the other end, Jauan Jennings was the lowest at 48.7, with Bartholomew at 53 and Bredeson at 54.4.
Pass protection produced some of the cleaner marks on the day. Joe Huber posted an 82.8, Christian Darrisaw recorded an 81, and Brian O’Neill also landed at 81. The weakest pass-blocking grades belonged to Bredeson at 31.6, Will Fries at 37, and Brandel at 39.8.
Defensively, Blake Cashman, Kyle Van Noy, and Harrison Smith topped the chart with grades of 84.3, 89.7, and 84.8, respectively. The lowest defensive marks went to Caleb Banks at 33.6, Andrew Van Ginkel at 48.4, and Domonique Orange at 49.6.
Against the run, Levi Drake Rodriguez posted an 84.4, Van Noy came in at 81.9, and Cashman scored 74.8. The bottom three in that category were Banks at 34, Van Ginkel at 38.2, and Eric Wilson at 50.6.
The pass-rush grades were led by Cashman at 80.1, Van Noy at 74.5, and Dallas Turner at 72.1. On the lower end, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had a 52.7, Levi Drake Rodriguez a 53.3, and Josh Metellus a 54.1.
Coverage was Cashman’s biggest win of the night, as he posted a 93.5. Byron Murphy Jr. followed at 79.9 and Harrison Smith at 77.6. The lowest coverage grades went to Wilson at 55, James Pierre at 58.6, and Metellus at 59.5.
In Other News...
Vikings Keep Winning But One Concern Is Getting Harder To Ignore
The Vikings kept their perfect start rolling with a home win over the Colts, and the formula looked familiar enough by now. Defense and special teams did most of the heavy lifting, while Will Reichard continued his remarkable run with a franchise-record field goal streak and the offense did just enough to stay in front, including a touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to T.J. Hockenson.
Still, the latest win also added to a growing concern that is getting harder to brush aside. Even with Minnesota sitting at 6-0, the offense has not looked as clean or as consistent as the record suggests, and the team keeps leaning on the other phases to carry it through games. In a season where the margin for error is shrinking, that imbalance is becoming impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Be Heading For A Tougher T.J. Hockenson Decision
T.J. Hockensons place in Minnesota has suddenly turned into one of the more interesting contract stories around the Vikings. After the team reworked his deal, he is in the final year of his contract, and his recent usage has reminded everyone why the tight end market can move quickly when production shows up at the right time. He was a major part of the offense in the Week 4 win, catching 13 passes for 119 yards, a sign that his role can still grow when he is featured.
The timing makes the next stretch especially important. Hockenson suffered a concussion in Week 5, which briefly interrupted the momentum he had built, but there is still plenty of season left for him to shape his next payday. If his targets keep climbing and he stays on the field, the Vikings may have a tougher call than they expected when it comes to what he costs beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthy Just Gave Vikings Fans A Tough New Debate
J.J. McCarthys first start for the Giants arrived in Week 7, and it immediately gave Minnesota fans something to think about. Facing the Texans, the former Vikings quarterback helped New York pull out a 27-21 overtime win while showing the kind of poise and efficiency that made him such an intriguing young option in the first place.
He finished 20 of 28 for 252 yards without a touchdown or interception, and the Giants leaned hard on the run game to finish the job with 188 rushing yards and four scores. For Vikings observers, the uncomfortable part is obvious: the move that sent McCarthy to New York for a 2027 fifth-round pick last month suddenly looks a lot more worth revisiting, even if one strong debut is only one piece of a bigger evaluation. [Read more 🡒]