Vikings Snap Counts vs. Raiders: Depth Needed on Both Sides of Ball

The Vikings pulled off a seemingly-impossible feat on Sunday, winning an NFL game despite scoring just three points. That snapped a streak of 255 straight losses by teams who score three points or fewer, marking the first 3-0 victory in the league since a "mud bowl" between the Steelers and Dolphins in 2007. This game was played in perfect conditions inside the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium.

Minnesota's offense was abysmal, with Josh Dobbs struggling mightily and getting very little help from his offensive line or his pass-catchers. It certainly didn't help that a Dobbs hospital ball got Justin Jefferson literally taken to the hospital in the second quarter. Fortunately for Kevin O'Connell, Brian Flores' defense was up to the task, pitching an incredibly impressive shutout against Aidan O'Connell and the Raiders.

In the end, a win is a win, but the Vikings have to figure out a way to get something going on offense if they're going to make the playoffs. In a game filled with injuries for the road team, let's take a look at the Vikings' offensive and defensive snap counts to see what we can learn.

Vikings offensive snap counts vs. Raiders (out of 72)

LT Christian Darrisaw: 72
C Garrett Bradbury: 72
RG Blake Brandel: 72
LG Dalton Risner: 70
WR Jordan Addison: 69
TE T.J. Hockenson: 67
QB Josh Dobbs: 53
K.J. Osborn: 51
RT David Quessenberry: 42
RB Ty Chandler: 40
WR Brandon Powell: 36
RT Brian O'Neill: 30
TE Josh Oliver: 28
RB Alexander Mattison: 23
QB Nick Mullens: 19
WR Jalen Nailor: 17
WR Justin Jefferson: 13
FB C.J. Ham: 8
TE Johnny Mundt: 5
RB Kene Nwangwu: 3
LG Austin Schlottmann: 2

Got all that? 21 offensive players used is a season-high for the Vikings. Jefferson, O'Neill, Mattison, Risner, and Nailor all left the game due to injury at one point or another, with only Risner being able to return out of that group. Fortunately, Jefferson avoided anything significant with his chest and may be able to play on Saturday against the Bengals.

Ed Ingram missed the game with a hip injury, so when O'Neill hurt his ankle, the Vikings were playing a pair of backups on the right side of their offensive line in Brandel and Quessenberry. It sounds like Ingram has a better chance than O'Neill to play in Week 15.

Oh, and you're probably aware that Dobbs was benched for Mullens in the fourth quarter after a rough outing (in which he absolutely played poorly but was also hurt by a bunch of drops). Mullens led the Vikings on the only scoring drive of the game and seems likely to start this weekend in Cincinnati.

This was a poor game for Osborn, which could potentially lead to more playing time for Powell. With Mattison out, the Vikings turned to Chandler and also gave three combined carries to Nwangwu and Ham. It was quite the day for this offense.

Vikings defensive snap counts vs. Raiders (out of 54)

S Camryn Bynum: 54
S Harrison Smith: 54
CB Byron Murphy Jr: 54
S Josh Metellus: 54
LB Ivan Pace Jr: 54
CB Akayleb Evans: 54
OLB D.J. Wonnum: 51
OLB Danielle Hunter: 49
DT Harrison Phillips: 36
DT Jonathan Bullard: 35
DT Sheldon Day: 27
OLB Pat Jones II: 23
CB Mekhi Blackmon: 19
DT Jaquelin Roy: 12
LB Troy Dye: 8
S Theo Jackson: 7
S Jay Ward: 2
CB NaJee Thompson: 1

What a freaking performance by the Vikings' defense. Pace was the MVP, but he was far from alone. Metellus (forced fumble) and Hunter (seven pressures) were also sensational. Top to bottom, everyone who played contributed to Minnesota's second shutout in the last 30 seasons.

Pace and the five main defensive backs didn't come off the field once. Wonnum and Hunter were close to being every-down players. Then there was a rotation of three primary defensive tackles, which now includes the journeyman veteran Day instead of Roy, Khyiris Tonga, or Dean Lowry (IR).

Further down the depth chart, other players chipped in. Blackmon had a fumble recovery, Dye and Jones teamed up for a sack, and Ward even got on the score sheet with a fumble recovery on the final play of the game.

Top 12 in special team snaps

Theo Jackson: 19
Jay Ward: 18
Brian Asamoah II: 16
NaJee Thompson: 15
C.J. Ham: 15
Troy Dye: 13
Pat Jones II: 13
Johnny Mundt: 12
Ryan Wright: 11
Andrew DePaola: 11
Nick Vigil: 10
Josh Metellus: 8

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.

Subscribe to the Inside the Vikings newsletter

Follow Will Ragatz on Twitter