The Minnesota Vikings' first-team offense was far from the greatest show on turf in Friday night’s 20-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but it left Seattle feeling more confident.
Quarterback Sam Bradford was given more time to throw, which allowed him to push the ball downfield for several explosive plays, including a 39-yard pass to top receiver Stefon Diggs that set up a field goal. Rookie starter Dalvin Cook showed off his explosiveness on several breakout runs, picking up a total of 40 yards on just seven carries. While the starters didn’t put up an impressive point total in three drives, the Vikings accomplished one of their biggest goals by showing progress on offense.
QB depth chart: Bradford played the Vikings’ first three drives and finished 7-for-11 with 95 yards. Minnesota’s offensive line did a much better job protecting Bradford than it did in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, giving up zero sacks and providing time for the QB to work.
Backup Case Keenum was solid for the second straight week. After entering the game late in the second quarter, the first-year Viking went 12-for-18 for 70 yards on mostly dink-and-dunk throws. Minnesota managed only a field goal with Keenum in the game.
Once again, third-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke struggled at first, throwing an interception and several inaccurate passes after entering in the fourth quarter. But the former Old Dominion QB rebounded late in the game by tossing a touchdown pass to tight end Bucky Hodges.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Vikings looked …: Uneven. On the offensive side, the Vikings’ first team did not score, but it moved the ball effectively both on the ground and through the air. Bradford and Diggs have not missed a beat since gaining instant chemistry last season. Bradford went 4-for-5 with 65 yards when throwing in Diggs’ direction. Cook also impressed in the starters’ third series with a 15-yard carry and two 9-yard rushes.
Coach Mike Zimmer will not be thrilled with the performance by his defensive starters. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson finished the night with 206 yards and two touchdowns and completed all four passes he threw to Doug Baldwin, his No. 1 receiver, for 69 yards. The Vikings’ defense was missing several starters in the secondary as cornerback Trae Waynes and safety Andrew Sendejo did not dress.
One reason to be concerned: The Vikings’ starters will regret the end of their first drive when they took two penalties inside the red zone. A false start on tight end Kyle Rudolph moved the Vikings back from the 12- to the 17-yard line, then they took a delay-of-game penalty to set up third-and-20.
Scoring in the red zone has been an issue for Minnesota during the Zimmer era, especially last season. In 2016, the Vikings ranked 29th in the NFL in red zone percentage. If the Minnesota offense is going to improve from last year, it will have to finish quality drives.
That guy could start: In the preseason opener, Nick Easton started at center and third-round draft pick Pat Elflein came in with the second team. On Friday night, Elflein got the call with the first team and Easton started in place of injured Alex Boone at left guard. The former Ohio State star has split first-team reps throughout training camp and may be in the lead to open the season at center.
Rookie watch: Once again, Cook was the centerpiece of the Vikings’ first-team offense. After getting nine touches against Buffalo, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur dialed up seven runs for Cook, which resulted in 40 yards. The former Florida State standout also caught one pass for 10 yards.
Former Michigan linebacker Ben Gedeon has been gaining steam recently in training camp and received the starting nod at weakside linebacker against Seattle, recording four tackles.
Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, a fourth-round pick, found himself in the Seattle backfield often on Friday night. He picked up two tackles for losses and five total tackles. Johnson may have gained headway in the battle for an interior defensive line spot.
After an impressive preseason opener, seventh-round selection Stacy Coley had a quiet follow-up performance, grabbing two catches on five targets for 17 yards.
Hodges had his first flashy play of the preseason, catching a 33-yard pass from Heinicke and nabbing a 21-yard touchdown.
Rookie defensive lineman on the rise: At the beginning of camp, defensive lineman Tashawn Bower was a long shot to make the team. Now, he’ll be tough to keep off the 53-man roster. The undrafted free agent from LSU has been one of the Vikings’ standouts on defense in both preseason games. He picked up his second sack in as many contests and consistently beat his man to pressure Seattle's quarterbacks.
