Vikings Snap Counts: Kearse, Long get first opportunities
Let's face it, there's not a lot that went right for the Minnesota Vikings in their 21-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Compounding the problems were an injury to Andrew Sendejo and a leaky offensive line.
This meant two things: Jayron Kearse finally saw the field on defense and recent free-agent signing Jake Long got his first action with the Vikings.
Kearse, a rookie seventh-round pick, had appeared in exactly one defensive snap this season, against Carolina in Week 3. With Sendejo lost for the game after just six snaps, Kearse played the remaining 52 defensive snaps at safety. He recorded two tackles (which might not seem like a lot, but Minnesota only had 39 tackles combined and this placed Kearse tied for sixth).
Long was put in for 13 offensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, Long gave up two sacks and a QB hurry in 10 pass plays. Ouch.
Some other notes from Sunday's snap counts:
-- Long was in for Jeremiah Sirles. The left tackle played the other 63 offensive snaps, but, according to PFF, in 39 pass plays he allowed two sacks, two quarterback hits and four QB hurries.
-- Cordarrelle Patterson saw his time on the field increase yet again. He played in 51 offensive snaps, or 67 percent. His playing time has increased nearly every week this season. Patterson's playing time percentages week-to-week: 4, 3, 9, 4, 61 and 67. Against the Eagles, Patterson had seven receptions for 67 yards and Minnesota's lone touchdown.
-- Jerick McKinnon had played in at least 55 percent of the offensive plays in the last three games, but he was in on just 16 snaps (21 percent) against Philadelphia, his on-field time likely curtailed by an injury.
-- With McKinnon limited, Matt Asiata played in a season-high 57 snaps (75 percent). His previous high had been 34 snaps (46 percent) against Houston in Week 5. Running back Ronnie Hillman also his Minnesota debut, but played just four snaps (5 percent).
-- Everson Griffen played in 97 percent of the defensive snaps but finished with just one tackle.
-- Linebacker Chad Greenway had played a combined nine snaps in the last two games but was in on 24 defensive plays (41 percent) at Philadelphia, his second-highest total and percentage of the season.
Here's the complete breakdown of offensive and defensive snaps for the Vikings at Philadelphia:
GAME 6: EAGLES (OFFENSE)
GAME 6: EAGLES (DEFENSE)
Dave Heller is the author of the upcoming book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams Players from the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns
