T.J. Hockenson had the best game of his career in Sunday’s 27-19 Vikings win over the Saints, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hockenson caught 11 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown to help Josh Dobbs secure his first win as the Vikings’ starting quarterback. The star tight end received a 93.3 offensive grade from PFF, the highest single-game grade Hockenson has received in his five-year career.
TJ Hockenson was unreal yesterday. One of the best individual performances by a pass catcher all season imo.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) November 13, 2023
The 26-year-old wasn’t the only Vikings tight end who had a good game, in fact all three of the team’s tight ends finished with the top three offensive grades on the team.
Vikings top offensive grades against New Orleans
- T.J. Hockenson, TE – 93.3
- Johnny Mundt, TE – 80.0
- Josh Oliver, TE – 74.9
- Brian O’Neill, RT – 74.4
- Christian Darrisaw, LT – 73.4
O’Neill and Darrisaw’s stellar performances were followed closely on the offensive line by second-year guard Ed Ingram. PFF gave Ingram a 73.1 offensive grade for a performance where the LSU product didn’t allow a single QB hurry or hit during. The only other time Ingram has done that was Week 18 of last season against the Bears.
Offensive line grades (Pass Blocking grade | Run Blocking grade)
LT – Christain Darrisaw (80.7 | 64.9)
LG – Dalton Risner (41.2 | 57.5)
C – Garrett Bradbury (59.7 | 67.4)
RG – Ed Ingram (68.5 | 71.0)
RT – Brian O’Neill (82.5 | 65.3)
Overall, PFF says the offensive line allowed seven hurries and one QB hit. (PFF credits Dobbs with causing the one sack in the game, as Demario Davis was untouched and looked to be sitting as a shadow before Dobbs ran into him.)
Speaking of Dobbs, he earned a 63.4 passing grade after passing for 268 yards and one touchdown, while adding 44 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Dobbs was credited with one big-time throw and one turnover-worthy play while averaging 3.89 seconds to throw. Kirk Couins was averaging 2.69 seconds to throw before his season-ending injury.
While a lot of the focus has once again been on the offense under Dobbs there were some outstanding performances on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Four defensive backs make up the top-five defensive grades from Sunday.
Vikings top defensive grades
- Akayleb Evans, CB – 81.3
- Mekhi Blackmon, CB – 76.6
- Andrew Booth Jr., CB – 74.9
- Troy Dye, LB – 72.9
- Camryn Bynum, S – 69.1
Saints quarterbacks only targeted Evans once as the second-year corner had the best defensive grade on the team with an 81.3. Evans recorded a pass breakup on that one target.
While both passing touchdowns came against Byron Murphy, he also was credited with two pass breakups and an interception after being targeted 12 times. The Saints were 7-of-12 for 81 yards when throwing Murphy’s way.
Rookie corner Mekhi Blackmon also had an interception and a pass breakup as he came out of Sunday’s game with 76.9 coverage grade, the second highest on the team behind Evans.
The Vikings defense forced eight hurries, five QB hits and registered three sacks. Danielle Hunter had a monster game, recording one sack, two hurries and two QB hits. D.J. Wonnum also had an impactful game registering one sack and one hurry.
