Here are the top takeaways from Sunday’s Detroit-Minnesota game, including the highest-graded players for each team:
Minnesota Vikings
— QB Teddy Bridgewater’s (+4.0) feet carried him to 21 rushing yards and a score on six runs, and while his ability to spin away from pressure stood out, the way he dealt with the blitz was as impressive. Blitzed on 10 of his dropbacks, Bridgewater faced it with calm and responded by completing 7 of 10 attempts for 99 yards.
— An active day on the edge for DE Brian Robison (+4.8) as he generated five total pressures (one hit, four hurries) and five of his six tackles went for defensive stops. Robison and DT Linval Joseph (+3.9) each earned solid positive grades in both run defense and as pass rushers.
— A top-level challenge this week for CB Xavier Rhodes (+0.8) as he squared off with Lions WR Calvin Johnson. All 13 targets Rhodes faced were aimed for Johnson and he allowed just seven to be completed for 62 yards. Johnson did pick up a score against Rhodes but the Viking corner knocked away a pair of passes as well.
Top Performers:
LG Brandon Fusco (+4.1)
DE Brian Robison (+4.8)
QB Teddy Bridgewater (+4.0)
DT Linval Joseph (+3.9)
S Harrison Smith (+3.7)
Detroit Lions
— Lions QB Matthew Stafford (-3.8 passing) was pressured on 22 of his 58 dropbacks (38 percent). With one run and one sack factored in, he was able to get off 20 throws on those snaps but completed only seven.
— The offensive line was charged with 18 total pressures and the tackles at either end took most of it from the Minnesota defensive ends. LT Riley Reiff (-3.7) surrendered a hit and six hurries while RT Cornelius Lucas (-4.7) gave up a hit and four hurries.
— WR Calvin Johnson (-0.9) saw 17 targets and, as mentioned above, they were heavily concentrated into the coverage of Xavier Rhodes (13 of them). That makes it all the more interesting that WR Golden Tate (-0.6 receiving) and TE Eric Ebron (-0.2) combined for 18 targets and each managed catches into the coverage of five different defenders.
Top Performers:
DE Ezekial Ansah (+4.5)
SS James Ihedigbo (+4.4)
LB Stephen Tulloch (+2.8)
FB Michael Burton (+2.4)
LG Manuel Ramirez (+1.5)
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