Vikings by the Numbers: Good, Okay and Downright Awful
By Nick Fritz
The Good
More from Sporting Sota
- Minnesota Twins bullpen will be their downfall
- Top 5 Minnesota Twins Pitching Prospects
- Kyle Rudolph signing gives stability to Minnesota Vikings offense
- Jake Odorizzi’s emergence fueling Twins starting staff
- Former Minnesota Twins player David Ortiz shot
30:
The number of team sacks for the Vikings’ defense. Not a bad improvement, considering last year they finished with 44 for the whole season. Who needs
Jared Allen?
9: The number of sacks this season by our breakout star defensive end Everson Griffen. Also the number of sacks by the Redskins, Falcons and Cardinals this year.
213: The number of passing yards per game allowed by the Vikings this season, which is fourth in the NFL. This is the biggest improvement of all for the Vikes, who allowed an atrocious 287.2 last season, second to last in the league.
The Okay
8: The number of interceptions for the Vikings’ defense this year. Even though the Vikings’ defensive backs are having a much better year than last, they’re on pace for less than last season (19).
1074: The number of rushing yards for our new look offense. This is about where the Vikings were last season at this time, except last year everything ran through Adrian Peterson. The two-back look is different, but it has been about as effective minus the home runs AP was capable of hitting.
0: The Vikings +/- for turnovers, meaning they’ve turned the ball over as many times as they have taken it. This is very average, obviously, but its better than last year when the team finished -12. Again, we’re see an improvement.
The Downright Awful
30: The number of times Vikings’ QB’s have been sacked this year. As good as the defensive line has been, the pass protection has been opposite.
168: The number of points scored by the Vikings this year. That’s an average of 18.7 per game, which is pretty terrible. It shows how well the defense has played to keep the season afloat.
6: The number of touchdowns thrown by Vikings quarterbacks this season. This is dead last in the league and should be because it’s downright awful. DOWN. RIGHT. AWFUL. They’ve thrown five more interceptions than touchdowns this year.
Nov 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer questions a call to head linesman Jerry Bergman in the game against the Washington Redskins in the third quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports