After a 2020 season that ended without a playoff berth thanks to back-to-back losses where they gave up a combined 463 yards on the ground, the Vikings believed the return of injured players and a series of offseason investments would bring their run defense back to form in 2021.
Through four games (and three losses), that hasn't been the case. The Vikings are 25th in the league in rushing yards, after finishing 27th a year ago, and rank 28th in expected points added against the run despite the addition of Dalvin Tomlinson and the returns of two starters who didn't play a down for them last year (Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce).