Minnesota Vikings standout performances highlighted by a decimated offensive line stepping up in a major way vs. Cleveland Browns

It wasn’t pretty, but the Vikigns got the win thanks to these performances

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) makes a catch against Cleveland Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during the fourth quarter of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings had their second consecutive game in Europe on Sunday morning, and they came away with a 21-17 win.

It wasn’t an easy win for the Vikings, but they battled hard throughout. The offensive line put in its best performance of the season, along with quarterback Carson Wentz, leading a winning drive.

The biggest performances were a major factor in the game’s outcome, highlighting this week’s studs and duds.

Minnesota Vikings studs and duds

Stud: Vikings’ offensive line

This was one of the more decimated position groups across the NFL. They weren’t just missing three starters going into the game, but also had backup center Michael Jurgens out with a hamstring injury.

It was far from a perfect game for the group, but it managed to mitigate the Browns’ strong defensive line.

Dud: Run defense

When the Vikings traded defensive tackle Harrison Phillips before the final preseason game, it was a puzzling decision. He was the only nose tackle on the Vikings’ active roster. From a salary cap perspective, the move made a lot of sense, but the run defense immediately raised question marks.

Those haven’t gone away, as the Vikings have been using an “oops, all three-technique” defensive front. Asking the likes of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to two-gap as the nose tackle hasn’t been a winning strategy, and it’s a big reason why the Browns generated points on offense, along with 140 yards on the ground at 4.4 yards per carry.

Stud: WR Justin Jefferson

When you have a lot of issues with injuries across the roster, you need your superstar players to step up and make an impact. This is exactly what Jefferson did on Sunday morning.

From the beginning of the game, he was making an impact in the passing game. Whether it be quick passes or going vertical, he was helping the Vikings’ offense move the ball down the field. He caught this ball on a third down late in the game, and then caught a fade route on Denzel Ward in the two-minute drill — a sincerely impressive player across the board with seven catches for 123 yards.

Dud: WR Jordan Addison

This is an interesting situation. Going into the game, there was zero word of any issue with Addison, which is an important caveat. He sat out the entire first quarter due to what was communicated as a “coach’s decision.”

That sends quite a negative message about Addison, who hasn’t had the best track record off the field, including serving a three-game suspension to start the season. Being benched for an entire quarter won’t quiet any concerns some may have about him.

Stud: C Blake Brandel

The Vikings’ decimated offensive line has been an issue for the majority of the season. First, not having Darrisaw in the first two games and then missing multiple others over the next three weeks has significantly hindered the offense.

One of the biggest stories coming into the game was that the Vikings had to start, not just a third-string center in Blake Brandel, but he had never played center in either college or the NFL.

Throughout the entire game, there weren’t any issues snapping the ball, nor with pass protection calls. Is it enough to open a conversation where Brandel can be a long-term answer at center? I don’t think we can go that far, but it’s certainly something to monitor, especially if he has to play more.

Dud: ILB Eric Wilson

There is a reason Wilson is a backup, and he’s been proving it consistently. He is overrunning plays, misreading gaps, and is slow to get out to the edge when he’s in coverage. We know that Wilson isn’t supposed to be playing this kind of snap share, but it’s been brutal to watch, and he continues to struggle.

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