Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Defense: Not much went right for the Vikings defense in Week 1.
Minnesota allowed 43 points, the most under Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, and the most at U.S. Bank Stadium since the venue opened in 2016.
Green Bay also racked up 522 total yards, which was the second-highest total allowed under Zimmer.
Minnesota's pass defense had a rough outing. Aaron Rodgers wasn't sacked and had his way against the Vikings new-look cornerbacks group.
According to analytics website Pro Football Focus, the trio of Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Cameron Dantzler each gave up a touchdown pass Sunday. And in all, PFF assessed the group with allowing 20 receptions for 249 yards on 24 targets.
"There's a lot of football left to be played, but we have to get better quick," Zimmer said after Sunday's game.
Entering Week 2, the Vikings rank last in the league in both points and yards allowed per game.
The Colts, meanwhile, also struggled against the pass in Week 1. While Jacksonville only had 241 net yards of total offense, quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 19 of 20 passes for 173 yards and three scores.
Indianapolis did sack Minshew four times, with Denico Autry recording a pair of them. Justin Houston and Khari Willis also had sacks.
The Colts allowed 91 rushing yards on 23 attempts (4.0 yards per carry).
Special Teams: It was a quiet opener for Minnesota's specialists.
Dan Bailey made his lone field goal try from 35 yards out as the first half expired. He attempted (and made) just one extra point because the Vikings opted to go for 2-point conversions after three fourth quarter touchdowns. Minnesota was successful on all three 2-point tries, setting a franchise record for a single game.
Punter Britton Colquitt punted just twice for 80 yards, with both attempts going for 40 yards. Rookie K.J. Osborn had two kickoff returns for 64 yards, with a long of 38. He did not have the opportunity for a punt return because the only punt of the day by Green Bay landed out of bounds.
Colts rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made two of three field goals, hitting from 25 and 38 yards out, but missing from 30. He added a pair of extra points.
Indianapolis did not punt Sunday and did not have a punt return, but the Colts tallied 90 yards on three kickoff returns.
Looking for a win
The Vikings will be looking for the first-ever road win against the Colts on Sunday.
Minnesota is 0-11 all-time on the road against the Colts, including a playoff game at the end of the 1968 season. The Vikings have lost all three road games since the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984, falling in 2000, 2004 and 2012.
Before that, the Vikings were 0-8 against the Colts when they played in Baltimore.
Overall, Minnesota is 7-17-1 in its franchise history against the Colts.
The Vikings are also riding a five-game overall losing streak to the Colts, which dates back to 2000. Minnesota won five consecutive games in the series before the current skid.