The Vikings went into Green Bay Sunday afternoon with hopes of eliminating the Packers from the playoffs, but instead, it was quite the opposite. The Packers came out on top keeping their playoff hopes alive, and the Vikings fell to the number three seed in the NFC standings.
Unfortunately, the Vikings had a few guys leave due to injury and one of those positions was center. Austin Schlottmann has been filling in for Garrett Bradbury who has been battling a back injury. On just his fifth play of the game, Schlottmann suffered a broken ankle that will knock him out for the rest of the season.
In previous seasons, fans may not have thought that losing Bradbury would be that detrimental to the team. This season, it’s been quite the opposite. Before getting hurt, Bradbury was Pro Football Focus’ 10th-ranked center and had been proving himself as an important member of the offensive line. Since his injury, the interior offensive line has taken quite the hit. Sunday’s game against the Packers was another example.
The Vikings have been vulnerable to interior pressure over their last four games without Garrett Bradbury.
Six different defensive tackles have recorded at least 5 pressures in a game against the Vikings since Week 14.#StatThat
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 2, 2023
On the surface this stat is bad, but in context to how Bradbury has played this season, it’s even worse. In the 12 games that he has played this season, Bradbury has just one game with five pressures allowed and that was against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Vikings might just be playing it cautious with Bradbury knowing they have the playoffs already locked up, but if for some reason Bradbury can’t go, this interior offensive line could be in for a world of hurt when the playoffs arrive. Throw in the fact that Brian O’Neill left the game Sunday with a calf injury, and the severity is unknown. Things could turn south fast for this Vikings offensive line.
