Sam Bradford feels the pressure in Philly and has a new (unlikely) favorite target [Vikings stats that stand out]
Every Wednesday morning, beat writer Matt Vensel will share five Vikings stats that actually mean something heading into that weekend’s game.
20 — times Sam Bradford was pressured against the Eagles
Bradford had a rough afternoon is his return to Philadelphia, taking more hits in the City of Brotherly Love than Rocky. The Eagles pressured the quarterback on 20 of his 47 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, and he had a 16.4 passer rating when he wasn’t getting the ball batted out of his hands. Bradford was sacked six times and the Eagles also recorded 13 quarterback hits as the Vikings allowed the highest pressure percentage (42.5) on Bradford since his debut win over the Packers.
4 — quarterback pressures allowed Sunday by Matt Asiata
The Vikings offensive line, especially the tackles, struggled in the 21-10 loss, but there was plenty of blame to spread around. Even Asiata, typically a reliable pass protector out of the backfield, failed to protect the Vikings quarterback on a few occasions. The veteran back uncharacteristically was beaten for a sack, another quarterback hit and two other QB hurries, according to charting by my colleague, Andrew Krammer. Asiata also had issues trying to catch the ball, with a pair of drops on eight targets.
5 — turnovers in 11 plays between the Vikings and the Eagles
The Vikings and the Eagles had combined for three takeaways before last Sunday. Then they went out and collectively coughed the ball up five times in an 11-play span in the first quarter, though neither team could convert any of them into points. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, that was the first time there were turnovers on five straight possessions in an NFL game since the Steelers and the Browns did it on Oct. 18, 2009. By the end of last Sunday’s game, the Vikings and the Eagles had totaled eight takeaways.
16 — catches for Cordarrelle Patterson the past three games
Since Week 4, the team’s leading receiver, at least in terms of catches, has not been Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen or Kyle Rudolph. It is Patterson, the resurgent former first-round draft pick who has now caught touchdown passes in consecutive games for the first time since late in his rookie year. Patterson led the Vikings with seven catches and 67 receiving yards against the Eagles, and he has caught 16 of his 19 targets, many of them shorter throws, the past three games for 144 yards and two scores.
3 — times Harrison Smith has picked off Jay Cutler in his career
The Pro Bowl safety is probably one Vikings defender who is happy to see that Cutler, the Bears quarterback who has historically fared well against the Vikings, is expected to be back in the starting lineup Monday night after missing the past five weeks with a thumb injury. Smith has picked off Cutler once every season except for last, giving him three career interceptions of the reckless QB, including a pick-six as a rookie in 2012. Smith, who has a dozen career interceptions, doesn’t have one yet this season.