The cylinders that represent the defense seem to be deteriorating as the season goes on. Defense and offense seem to be 2 units headed in different directions. Defense tightened it up in the 2nd half although at that point I think the Vikes weren't running the ball as much as they had to be clock watching.
in regards to defense, remember KJ Wright was out early in the game. I think the cumulative effect of leaning on defense so heavily early in the year is wearing the D down but thankfully the O is stepping up.
No I didn't forget they were out. The defensive arc has been downward the last 3 weeks. Last week it was the pass defense, this week the run defense, and 3rd down defense has been a problem for even longer.