We dont talk about this much...

[purplefaithful]

What do quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy have in common?

They are under center for the most explosive passing attacks in football through Week 10 of this NFL season.

So while Darnold gets rightfully critiqued for the Vikings offense failing to score a touchdown as he threw three interceptions, including two in the Jaguars end zone during Sunday’s 12-7 victory, coaches are also focused on getting more finishing power from the run game.

Darnold has just about all the help he needs in the passing game. Coach Kevin O’Connell is a respected play caller; tight end T.J. Hockenson announced his return with a team-leading eight grabs for 72 yards; and receiver Justin Jefferson is so good that the Jaguars played with two safeties deep for over 90% of passing plays in an effort to contain the NFL’s most explosive passing game. The Vikings’ 35 passes of 20-plus yards are tied with the Ravens and 49ers for the league high, according to Pro Football Reference.

But if Darnold isn’t throwing touchdowns, the Vikings generally aren’t scoring them.

The Vikings offense hasn’t had a rushing touchdown in the past three games; only two offenses, the Cowboys and Browns, have fewer rushing scores this season than the Vikings’ four. Their lack of points from the run game goes back to last season. The Vikings have scored the fewest rushing touchdowns (11) across the league since Week 1 of 2023, a 26-game span.

Darnold has thrown 17 of the offense’s 21 touchdowns through nine games.

He couldn’t throw one Sunday. And while running backs Aaron Jones and Cam Akers led a season-best 169-yard rushing effort, they were shut out of the end zone.

The Vikings want to make soft defenses, playing off to defend the pass, pay with damaging runs like big plays — preferably runs — that end in touchdowns. Their longest run on Sunday went 13 yards.

“We really didn’t get close enough to attempt to run the ball in the end zone unless you’re going to get a bigger [play],” coordinator Wes Phillips said. “Honestly, we felt like within the game there were some plays where if we’re just a little bit better in an area or two than those plays were close to being a 20-yard, a 30-yard run. 

And that’s where we’ve got to get to if a team wants to put a shell over the top of it. ... We felt like we were close, but we just got to be a little bit better there and make teams think twice about playing shell the whole game.”

Source: Startribune

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I agree with Wes, teams will continue to play shell if the Vikings cant make people pay with the run game...

[JimmyinSD]

The run game hasnt met the eyeball test in quite a while, they havent been able to line up and consistently get a yard or two when needed. Remember kirk trying to sneak it in on 2 or 3 straight plays last year and getting shut out? Lots of similar situations over the last several years. Need less finesse and more mauler from our IOL and RBs.

[MaroonBells]

Odd piece since the Vikings are coming off their best rushing effort of the year with 169 yards against the Jags. So this is not about the Vikings inability to run the ball. It's about their preference to throw the ball in the red zone.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

Odd piece since the Vikings are coming off their best rushing effort of the year with 169 yards against the Jags. So this is not about the Vikings inability to run the ball. It's about their preference to throw the ball in the red zone.

Ironic isn't it. KOC was forced to run the ball due to the QB's inability to pass the ball accurately in the red zone!
Passing is definitely a preference in this offense. It would be nice to have a reliable run game in 3rd and short situations and also to close out games in the 4th quarter.
Run game would look a lot better if they played the Jags every week.

[Montana Tom]

Odd piece since the Vikings are coming off their best rushing effort of the year with 169 yards against the Jags. So this is not about the Vikings inability to run the ball. It's about their preference to throw the ball in the red zone.

This struck me as ironic as well.  I knew this was true, and we put up nearly 500 yards total against Jax, and we won...but that wasn't good enough, I guess.

[medaille]

Ironic isn't it. KOC was forced to run the ball due to the QB's inability to pass the ball accurately in the red zone!
Passing is definitely a preference in this offense. It would be nice to have a reliable run game in 3rd and short situations and also to close out games in the 4th quarter.
Run game would look a lot better if they played the Jags every week.

I don’t think this is the case.  It’s not like we got 169 yards on the ground in the red zone.  I think the Jags just spent so much time with 2 deep safeties that it encouraged us to run more frequently.  Darnold while having a lot of turnovers in the red zone, has also been very productive in the red zone this season.

I do agree that we’re a pass to setup the run type of team, and I also agree that while we’re running pretty effectively this year, I’m not sure we’re a dominant running team that can assert their will on the defense and get yards on the ground when everyone knows we’re going to run it.

[purplefaithful]

The run game hasnt met the eyeball test in quite a while,  they havent been able to line up and consistently get a yard or two when needed.  Remember kirk trying to sneak it in on 2 or 3 straight plays last year and getting shut out?  Lots of similar situations over the last several years.  Need less finesse and more mauler from our IOL and RBs.

It hasn't for me either. 

I saw that Jacksonville played with at least two safeties deep for over 90% of the game, which was the highest single-game mark tracked by NFL Next Gen Stats since 2018.

So the Vikings got 169 on the ground, no td's and it flummoxed olde Sam. ITs a copy cat league, and I expect more 2 safeties deep more often. I'm sure its similar to how D's played Carter/Moss too.

[pattersaur]

I don’t think this is the case.  It’s not like we got 169 yards on the ground in the red zone.  I think the Jags just spent so much time with 2 deep safeties that it encouraged us to run more frequently.  Darnold while having a lot of turnovers in the red zone, has also been very productive in the red zone this season.

I do agree that we’re a pass to setup the run type of team, and I also agree that while we’re running pretty effectively this year, I’m not sure we’re a dominant running team that can assert their will on the defense and get yards on the ground when everyone knows we’re going to run it.

I'm sure we're not. I'm pretty sure we have the fewest rushing TDs in the league over last season and this one. Mattison had zero and Jones has 2.

The Lions, Ravens, Niners, Eagles, Commanders, Chiefs... the best offenses in the league I trust their running game just as much or more than their passing game. That's not the Vikings. Doesn't mean we suck, we're a very good offense most weeks too! But we're a passing team and that's what KO seems to want. Hopefully having more balance, like we've seen kind of recently, will lead to more results on the ground.