Here are the top takeaways from Saturday’s Vikings-Cowboys game, including the highest-graded players for each team:
Vikings:
— Though just two were aimed more than 10 yards downfield, rookie quarterback Taylor Heinicke connected on all 12 of his throws. That included a 5-for-5 showing on pressured attempts, as he earned his second consecutive positive game grade.
— Defensive tackle Tom Johnson pushed his preseason-leading pressure total to 12 with a sack, two hits, and a hurry.
— Middle linebacker Gerald Hodges saw just eight snaps of run defense but logged four tackles and three defensive stops in that span, leading inside linebackers this week with a run stop percentage of 37.5.
Top 5 graded players:
QB Taylor Heinicke (+2.4)
LG Brandon Fusco (+1.8)
DE Brian Robison (+1.8)
C Zac Kerin (+1.6)
RT Austin Shepherd (+1.5)
Cowboys:
— Last season tight end Jason Witten had only one negative performance in pass-blocking (Week 2 against Tennessee), but last night he posted a dismal -1.4 rating. Unfortunately his run blocking wasn’t any better (-1.3), as it was an all-around poor performance by one of the league’s standards at the position.
— With backup quarterback Brandon Weeden out because of a concussion suffered during Dallas’ Week 2 game, Dustin Vaughan again saw extensive action against the Vikings. This was certainly a game he’d like to forget, however, as his inaccuracy and decision-making resulted in another brutal grade (-4.6 passing).
— Defensive tackle Davon Coleman was a stud in second-half duty, posting positive grades in every phase of his game on his way to an overall grade of +3.5. He was as explosive as he was powerful, as Minnesota’s interior line consistently struggled to contain him to the line of scrimmage.
Top 5 graded players:
MLB Jasper Brinkley (+3.7)
DT Davon Coleman (+3.5)
S Barry Church (+3.2)
P Chris Jones (+3.2)
DE Greg Hardy (+3.2)