In a game where the Minnesota Vikings finally found some answers in stopping the run, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles got on track with their deep balls and aerial attack. Going into last Sunday’s loss, the Vikings were ranked in the top five regarding cover grades across the secondary, ranking as the top overall secondary when it came to playing Cover 2. The Eagles entered the same game struggling mightily against Cover 2 looks. So, what gives?
Minnesota’s pass rush has been lackluster through seven games, to say the least. There’s no push when rushing four, and Brian Flores’ blitz packages don’t seem as exotic as they once were. It’s ironic to look back at the beginning of the year, when fans inferred what the roster looked like on paper, implying that the pass rush would compensate for whatever the secondary looked like. That sentiment would ring true if the front four could get home on the quarterback early and often.
Instead, in big moments down the stretch, the unit is leaving fans asking, “Dude, where’s my pass rush?”
Andrew Van Ginkel‘s prolonged absence continues to be detrimental to the pass rush’s overall efficiency. When looping inside, Van Ginkel’s sense of space frees up rushers from all other angles.
There has to be a compromise when Van Ginkel is not on the field. Defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are not providing the interior push the team expected when they signed them. Opposing quarterbacks continue to climb the pocket with ease, picking their spots as one would with more than 2.5 seconds to throw the ball.
On the first touchdown of the day, the Vikings end up rushing only three, with Blake Cashman serving as a quarterback spy on fourth down. Situational awareness is crucial when a unit is already underperforming. Instead, the three-man rush, despite a questionable no-call on a potential hold on Dallas Turner, is not enough to help Josh Metellus, who is left one-on-one with A.J. Brown.
Hurts to Brown. Ya love to see it 👏 pic.twitter.com/aiOxo4zDHN
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 19, 2025
I would have liked to see the Vikings send at least five at Jalen Hurts, minimizing any time on the back end for them to take advantage of a bad matchup.
Since Flores arrived in 2023, everyone has discussed his blitz rate. His pre-snap shifts and layering are enough to send any quarterback into a spiral, but the blitz rate has decreased in the last two seasons. Last year, the Vikings were working with a near 40% blitz rate. Through seven games this season, that rate is barely peaking at 20%. If the Vikings want more success in tallying up sacks and pressures, they have to start sending the house again, especially on fourth downs.
Jonathan Greenard is the motor that should be kick-starting this operation, regardless of whether Van Ginkel is on the field or not. Greenard’s agility around the edge has taken a dip in production, resulting in only one sack and 24 pressures.
The Vikings rank in the bottom half when it comes to overall pressure ratings. In big moments down the stretch, almost getting to the quarterback won’t quite cut it. Granted, pressure grades are figures that can fluctuate quite frequently; if tangible results don’t result from them, they will only continue to be grades and figures. Greenard is close, and that’s the good news. There have been more instances than not where he is half a beat away from an early down stop or strip sack, and once those first ones come, it’ll bode well for the overall morale of the defensive line.
Defensive linemen run on mojo. There’s a certain flow state that has to be appreciated when rushing the quarterback. The Vikings need to develop better instincts for when they have an opportunity to sack the quarterback. With how the secondary is playing in cover looks, outside of last Sunday, there should be ample time to suffocate the pocket.
Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers will be another opportunity for the Vikings to get back to creating signature pressures that lead to shorter fields and more time of possession for the offense. The Chargers allowed 25 pressures in their loss to the Indianapolis Colts alone last Sunday. With their offensive line unit having injury woes, the Vikings could be primed for an official get-right game for the position group that fans were arguably most excited about coming into the year.