Death by a thousand cuts is the summary of this Vikings run defense, but the slashes became deeper by a Rams offense that, after Sunday's loss, is now the fourth to run for over 150 yards against coach Mike Zimmer's squad this season.
"They have a unique scheme," Zimmer said, "where they use the receiver, the extra guy that's over there, to kind of go [left or right] and our guys were jumping out at them instead of playing what they were supposed to play. So they ended up getting some big gashes in there."
Run or pass, the Vikings defense has fallen off under Zimmer as injuries, particularly at defensive end, and failed roster decisions and development, particularly at cornerback, continue to weigh them down.