http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/03/sports/football/minnesota-vikings-defense-ny-giants.html 2016-10-02 22:28:29 A Dominant Defense Fuels the Vikings’ Surge Minnesota (3-0) has a defense that led the N.F.L. in sacks and was allowing the fewest yards per play on first down (3.38) entering Week 4. === EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — In a three-week span beginning late in training camp, the Yet the Vikings stand 3-0, the team’s best start since 2009, entering Monday night’s game against the Giants. Quarterback Sam Bradford, acquired from Philadelphia for two draft choices, excelled in his two starts, completing 67.8 percent of his passes without an interception. But the main reason for Minnesota’s surge is the defense, nurtured by the head coach, Mike Zimmer, who is a defensive savant. Minnesota led the league with 15 sacks and a plus-8 turnover margin entering Week 4 while allowing the fewest yards per play on first down (3.38). The defense sacked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times in Week 2, and Carolina’s Cam Newton eight times in Week 3. Defensive end Danielle Hunter already has a safety and a fumble return for a touchdown, and linebacker Eric Kendricks returned an interception for another score. Over all, the Vikings rank sixth in yardage allowed. They were 31st in 2013, the season before Zimmer arrived. “From the first day I came in here, we always met as a defense,” Zimmer said recently at Winter Park, where the team practices. “They’ve heard the same things over and over for three years. I think that helps.” So does continuity. Starters like defensive end Everson Griffen — who had three sacks last week — safety Harrison Smith and defensive end Brian Robison were here when Zimmer took over. The former Giants nose tackle Linval Joseph, a run stopper, signed as a free agent that season. “You can point at a lot of things,” Smith said. “The continuity is obviously big, and the depth. Every player contributes. It’s not like there’s one or two players making all the plays. “Zim is one of those guys who can see all 11 players on the field,” Smith said of his coach. “He will make multiple corrections to multiple guys after plays. He understand so much and puts us in position to win.” Zimmer laughed when reminded of a favorite expression by his former boss with the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Parcells, when asked about a player enjoying a little success: Let’s not put him in Canton just yet. “I don’t think we have anybody like that yet,” Zimmer said. “We have players that are good team guys who care about doing things right. They’re competitive, smart. And we definitely have not arrived. It’s a long season. We have to continue to play good.” ANEMIC RUSHING GAME Peterson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, gained 50 yards on 31 carries before tearing the meniscus in his right knee in Week 2 against Green Bay. That is 1.6 yards per carry, far below his career mark of 4.9 entering this season. Two years ago, when a suspension and a stint on the commissioner’s exempt list sidelined Peterson for the final 15 games, the backups Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata combined for more than 1,000 yards. McKinnon and Asiata are again filling in, but so far have not done much. The Vikings are averaging 51 yards rushing per game and 2.1 yards per attempt, both last in the league. The Giants rank fifth in the league in run defense, a concern for Mike Zimmer. “We’re closer, but we’re just not quite getting there yet,” Zimmer said. “This is a tough team to run the ball against. They haven’t given up a lot of yards running, but we’re going to have to be hardheaded and stick with it.” MISSED EXTRA POINTS Walsh has missed two in five attempts. He missed four last season, when the N.F.L. lengthened the distance from 20 to 35 yards. He was 108 for 109 in his first three seasons. “I think it’s between the ears right now, and it’s something that we’ve talked about again this week,” the special teams coach, Mike Priefer, said. “I feel very confident with him going forward. He’s just got to go out and make those kicks. I don’t know what else to tell you, to be honest with you.”