The Minnesota Vikings continue to stay competitive in every game they play in, but they fall to 7-7 with a 27-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon.
They had every opportunity to make it happen and keep the ball in their court to win the NFC North but they let it slip through their fingers.
The snap counts from Saturday’s game tell the story of a Vikings team that doesn’t use a lot of substitutions and seeing players take over spots on the depth chart.
Offensive snap counts
- 68: Christian Darrisaw, Dalton Risner, David Quessenberry, Ed Ingram, Garrett Bradbury, Nick Mullens
- 65: Justin Jefferson
- 62: Jordan Addison
- 59: T.J. Hockenson
- 55: Ty Chandler
- 37: K.J. Osborn
- 35: Josh Oliver
- 11: C.J. Ham
- 7: Johnny Mundt, Kene Nwangwu
- 2: Brandon Powell
Offensive snap count analysis
Chandler had his breakout performance on Saturday afternoon and became the first Vikings player to gain 100+ yards rushing in over 13 calendar months. He looked explosive and was seeing the field the best he has since being drafted by the Vikings in 2022. It was also notable that he played on 81% of the snaps with his backup Kene Nwangwu getting just seven snaps (10%).
Jefferson wasn’t on a pitch count on Satruday. He played all but three snaps on offense and looked every bit the star wide receiver he is.
Addison has firmly surpassed Osborn as the Vikings WR2. He outsnapped Osborn 65 to 37. The fourth wide receiver Brandon Powell only played in two snaps with both of them being on the tush push plays in overtime.
Defensive snap counts
- 70: Josh Metellus, Ivan Pace Jr., Camryn Bynum, Harrison Smith
- 69: Byron Murphy Jr.
- 68: Akayleb Evans
- 66: D.J. Wonnum, Danielle Hunter
- 54: Harrison Phillips
- 43: Jonathan Bullard
- 31: Pat Jones II
- 30: Troy Dye
- 23: Sheldon Day
- 20: Mekhi Blackmon
- 10: Jaquelin Roy
- 7: Theo Jackson
- 2: Khyiris Tonga
- 1: Jay Ward
Defensive snap count analysis
The trio of starting safeties continue to play every snap, as did Pace. Dye playing 30 snaps was more from a complementary linebacker than we have seen in some time.
Andrew Booth Jr. once again didn’t see the field on defense and Blackmon only saw it for 20 snaps.
With the injury to Bullard, Roy saw the field for 10 snaps. Getting him experience now will be good for next season.
