Vikings vow to fix struggling defense, close out strong vs. Bears
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- By nearly every measure, the Minnesota Vikings' defense has been transformed under coach Mike Zimmer this season, recovering from one of the league's worst units in 2013 to being a middle-of-the-pack performer this year.
Appreciating the overall improvement is difficult in the week-to-week grind of the NFL season, especially after Minnesota allowed season-highs in total yards and passing yards, and the second-most points allowed in a single-game Sunday at Miami.
With one game left, proving the development -- and a bit of pride -- are motivating factors for this week's season-finale at home against the Chicago Bears.
"You want to have a strong finish, especially after the performance (Sunday)," linebacker Jasper Brinkley said. "You want to be able to go out there and clear out any doubt on anybody's mind that you can play ball."
Zimmer and players Monday called it the worst defensive performance of the season.
"That was a disgrace for us as a unit," defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said.
The Vikings relied on defense earlier this season while the offense took shape under rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Now that Bridgewater is leading an efficient offense that has scored 30 points or more in three of the past four games, the defense has slipped beginning with the first meeting with Chicago in Week 11.
The Bears piled up 468 yards of offense and quarterback Jay Cutler was the first quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards on Minnesota's defense this season. All of the season-high marks were erased by the Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Tannehill Sunday.
Miami gained 493 total yards. Tannehill threw for 396 yards.
"It was the worst we've played all year," Zimmer said of his defense. "Maybe one of the worst defensive performances I've seen in a long time, but definitely this year, for sure."
Which had Zimmer wondering what happened.
Minnesota's pass rush accounted for two sacks and allowed Tannehill to escape pressure. The coverage breakdowns were due to communication, Brinkley said. Zimmer pointed out the team's 11 penalties on defense, eight of which were enforced for 74 yards.
"It was definitely out of character of us," Brinkley said. "Eleven penalties on defense? I don't even remember the time, that's kind of unheard of on defense. It's hard when you have 11 penalties on defense to stop a team."
The Vikings have allowed more than 400 total yards in three of the past five weeks.
Rookie linebacker Anthony Barr has missed the past three games and won't play in Sunday's finale. Linebacker Chad Greenway missed much of Sunday's game with a knee injury and his status for this week is uncertain. Greenway is away from the team after the death of his father, as well.
Finishing the season strong from a defensive standpoint would leave Minnesota with something to build on in the offseason and allow more of the focus to fall on the overall improvement than a late-season fade.
"This isn't a game where you can let down at all," Brinkley said. "You want to leave with a good taste in your mouth for the offseason."
Zimmer made plenty of changes to the Vikings' defense. The defensive-minded coach altered the scheme. The front office added nose tackle Linval Joseph and veteran cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. Brinkley was re-signed after one season in Arizona. Everson Griffen, with his team-leading 12 sacks, replaced Jared Allen.
Barr was added as the No. 9 overall draft pick. The defensive backs, particularly cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes, Josh Robinson and safety Harrison Smith developed under Zimmer.
The adjustments worked. Minnesota entered Sunday with the league's sixth-ranked pass defense (now eighth at 226.7 yards-per-game). Only a week earlier, the Vikings held the Detroit Lions to 233 total yards and 153 passing yards.
"Defensively we were very, very poor," Zimmer said. "I'm trying to figure out how we can go from playing so good one week to so poorly the next week. So that's kind of disappointing to me."
Zimmer said this week will tell him more about his team, and responded "definitely" when asked if the defense has something to prove this week.
"I think for the most part I know who they are," Zimmer said. "I don't who they were Sunday, but I think they were. But it's disappointing to me. We had guys that are normally good players that played poor. I mean, really poor. So that surprised me. Guys that you know you can count on that didn't play good, that's frustrating. I don't know. I don't know what it is."
Zimmer vowed to find out and fix the problems. His first season as Minnesota's coach is ending with progress from Bridgewater and the offense. He wants to see the same from his defense.
"(Bridgewater's success) brings a lot of hope, because at some point in time I'll get this defense fixed," Zimmer said. "It may not be this week, it may not be until middle of the year, but it will get fixed, you can bet your butt on that."
Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
