Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said Thursday that his defense didn’t miss a single tackle attempt on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
“Just from our records, I think it was our first game all year without a missed tackle,” Pettine said.
Pettine specifically mentioned Kevin King and Jaire Alexander as being “physical” tacklers during the 23-10 win. King had four total tackles, including one stop of receiver Adam Thielen short of the sticks on third down and another tackle of rookie tight Irv Smith Jr. for a 1-yard loss. Alexander twice dropped running back Ameer Abdullah in the open field after short gains.
Linebacker Blake Martinez had eight total tackles without a miss. Za’Darius Smith, who finished with five tackles for losses and seven tackles total, also went without a miss.
Smith had one of the game’s most impressive tackles. In the first half, he worked off the block attempt of left tackle Riley Reiff and wrestled down Mike Boone as he attempted to burst through a hole to the left side. The tackle likely saved a big play.
The Packers held the Vikings to 139 total yards, including just 57 rushing yards. The Vikings gained just 49 yards after the catch in the passing game and 26 yards after contact in the running game. Much of the yards after catch came as Kirk Cousins was checking the ball down to running backs late in the game.
Pro Football Reference had the Packers down for two missed tackles: one from Tramon Williams, and another from Dean Lowry.
It’s unclear when Williams missed his tackle, but the miss from Lowry was credited on Thielen’s short run. He dove at Thielen’s legs but couldn’t get him down. Luckily for the Packers, King was there to make the stop.
Through 15 games, the Packers rank in the middle of the pack in missed tackles. According to PFR, the Packers have 100 total misses, which ranks 15th in the NFL.
Martinez and King, who lead the Packers in missed tackles, went a perfect 12-for-12 in tackle attempts against the Vikings.