The (4-7) Minnesota Vikings will welcome the (3-7-1) Carolina Panthers to TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have been struggling recently with the Vikings having lost two straight and the Panthers losing five straight games. The Panthers still sit only a half game back in the NFC South as they trail the (4-7) Saints and Falcons.
The Vikings’ Everson Griffen has been on a tear as of late and looks at a favorable matchup with Panthers left tackle Byron Bell. Griffen currently ranks seventh among 4-3 ends with a +12.9 overall grade and his 9.7 Pass Rushing Productivity rating ranks 14th. Byron Bell is still a young player and his best work is still in front of him, but this year has been a struggle as his –25.2 overall grade ranks 76th out of 79 tackles and his pass blocking grade of –18.9 ranks 78th, while our Pass Blocking Efficiency rating shows Bell at 91.7 which ranks 58th.
Here are a few other players to look for.
Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen – His receiving grade of +9.2 trails only Rob Gronkowski and he also ranks first in Pass Blocking Efficiency having not allowed a pressure all year.
Thomas Davis -Davis ranks third out of all 4-3 outside linebackers with a +12.7 overall grade and in Coverage he ranks eighth only allowing 0.82 yards per coverage snap on the field.
Kawann Short – He’s been stout against the run with a +8.5 grade and rushing the passer with a +8.7 grade. Short also ranks fifth in Run Stop Percentage with a 10.6% mark.
Minnesota Vikings
John Sullivan – Sullivan’s +4.4 grade over the last six weeks has pushed his overall grade to +3.1. He’s looking to start a run like last year when he tallied a +11.9 grade over the last five games alone.
Sharrif Floyd – Floyd ranks eighth out of all defensive tackles with a +16.7 overall grade and his 8.8% Run Stop Percentage ranks 10th.
Anthony Barr – His +8.7 overall grade ranks fifth out of all 4-3 outside linebackers and his 13.8 Pass Rush Productivity rating ranks seventh.
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