Winners and losers from the Vikings preseason game against the Ravens

The Minnesota Vikings suffered a 13-3 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium. However, individual performances shone through, making the game more than just a loss on paper. The Vikings' offense only managed to score three points, yet there were standout moments for several players.

Carson Wentz, the team's backup quarterback, put up a strong performance with 92 yards passing on 11 completions. His composure helped lead an eight-play, 57-yard drive that resulted in a game-winning 52-yard field goal. Wentz's presence seems to be a calming influence that the Vikings are looking to capitalize on in the regular season.

On the other hand, J.J. McCarthy's game was a mixed bag. He had a solid throw of 50 yards to Tai Felton to set up the Vikings' lone touchdown. However, he also missed two opportunities for touchdowns, including a pass that was too high for Felton and another that was too high and behind Myles Price. McCarthy completed five out of ten passes for 81 yards, showcasing potential but also highlighting the inconsistency in his play.

Jacob Thomas, a rookie undrafted free agent from James Madison, stood out once again. Thomas played 38 snaps and earned a sixth-highest passer rating among all defenders (79.5 PFF grade). He contributed with three tackles, a pass break-up, and only allowed one completion for five yards. Jacob Thomas has been making an impact as a rookie and continues to show promise.

Henry Byrd, a rookie projected to be an interior lineman, had a tough outing. With Caleb Tiernan, the team's third-round pick, out with an ankle injury, Byrd started at left tackle. While he earned a respectable sixth-highest grade among players on offense (64.3 PFF grade), he allowed three pressures and was sacked by Ravens edge rusher Mike Green. Byrd's poor play led to a missed tackle on a 19-yard touchdown pass by Wentz, which was negated by a holding call on Byrd.

Among the receivers, both Dante Fleming and Jeshaun Jones had strong performances. Fleming caught three passes for 66 yards, while Jones had five catches for 80 yards. Both players were vital in the Vikings' passing game and have been making significant contributions during training camp and preseason. The decision on whether to keep six receivers on the active roster remains to be seen, but Fleming, Jones, and Dillon Bell add valuable skill sets and special teams availability to the Vikings' offense.

Lastly, PFF's grading system was not considered a major loss for the team. Rookie defenders Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange had challenges, but Banks had a crucial stop on a two-yard run from the Ravens' 1-yard line, while Orange appeared to affect a pass by affecting the Ravens' pocket. Young players like Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who made a stop on the first play of the game, and Max Brosmer are still developing and need improvement.

While some may view them as losers for now, they are far from finished products and have plenty of time to grow and contribute to the team.