Murphy: Vikings’ well-compensated defense must dominate or there’s hell to pay

[Guest]

Does anyone have access to some stats which would provide a baseline to interpret this? Specifically, what is the record for all NFL teams when their offense scores at least 21 points (over the 3 years Zimmer has coached here)? We can't really have a context of whether Zimmer's record is great or not unless we compare. Maybe he's outstanding, but it's possible that most teams win when they put up 21 or more. I haven't found a reference, but some of you have really good stat skills.

[Guest]

The D needs to stop the run to be considered dominent.  Way to many soft spots on the run D the last couple of seasons.

[Guest]

@"BarrNone55" said:
20% of the points in ~6 quarters of football... Dayum...

30% of the Vikings passing TDs came in 5 quarters of football.
23% of the Vikings scoring came in the last 2 games.


 As to the defense, they are the only reason the Vikings are constantly competitive and are one of the best defenses in the league.  Not worried about the defense.

[Guest]

@"BarrNone55" said:
20% of the points in ~6 quarters of football... Dayum...

I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the field against the Colts that day...Didnt even bother to watch the Packer game the next week - had it dvr'ed in case they somehow pulled out a win. 

You watch enough football over the years and you know when a team is packing it in. The Vikings were packing it in by then. 

Sad, but it happens. 

I agree with much of whats been posted, if the O gets a little more juice (let alone a decent lead now and then) this is a double digit win team. 

I think the Vikings are going to surprise a lot of people, including the media and fans from opposing teams too. 

[Guest]

@Jor-El said:
Does anyone have access to some stats which would provide a baseline to interpret this? Specifically, what is the record for all NFL teams when their offense scores at least 21 points (over the 3 years Zimmer has coached here)? We can't really have a context of whether Zimmer's record is great or not unless we compare. Maybe he's outstanding, but it's possible that most teams win when they put up 21 or more. I haven't found a reference, but some of you have really good stat skills.

I can give you the NFCN over the last 3 years, but the entire NFL would take way too much time for me.

Team record when scoring 21+ 2014-2016
Packers: 30-6
Lions: 17-5
Bears: 10-11

Total: 57-22 
Average: 19-7.3

[Guest]

@Jor-El said:
Does anyone have access to some stats which would provide a baseline to interpret this? Specifically, what is the record for all NFL teams when their offense scores at least 21 points (over the 3 years Zimmer has coached here)? We can't really have a context of whether Zimmer's record is great or not unless we compare. Maybe he's outstanding, but it's possible that most teams win when they put up 21 or more. I haven't found a reference, but some of you have really good stat skills.

It would take a while to compute this for the entire NFL.  I'll do the entire NFC win/loss when those teams have scored at least 21 points over the past three seasons.  If I find time later, I could do the AFC...  or someone else could tackle that!

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings:  20-3 (87%)
2. Green Bay Packers:  30-6 (83%)
3. Detroit Lions:  17-5  (77%)
4. Chicago Bears:  10-11 (48%)

NFC West

1. Arizona Cardinals: 26-5 (84%)
2. Seattle Seahawks:  23-8 (74%)
3. Los Angeles Rams: 12-7 (63%)
4. San Francisco 49ers: 9-7 (56%)

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys: 25-3 (89%)
2. Philadelphia Eagles: 24-10 (70%)
3. Washington Redskins: 17-7-1 (68%)
4. New York Giants:  17-11 (61%)

NFC South

1. Carolina Panthers: 24-4-1 (83%)
2. Atlanta Falcons: 22-10 (69%)
3. New Orleans Saints:  19-14 (57%)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11-9 (55%)

There you have it!  The average win percentage for the NFC when teams have scored 21 points or more over the past three seasons is 71%.  The Vikings are ranked 2nd in the NFC over that time frame with an 87% winning percentage just behind the Cowboys.  It's still a pretty impressive stat considering our offensive production has been in the bottom half of the league the past three seasons.

[Guest]

Nice work Wet (clap!)

Look, they didnt bring Zimmer over because he was Mike McCarthy good @ offense. They brought him over here cause he's a D guru and we have the NFC version of Tom Brady in our division. And Rogers aint retiring any time soon. 

Vikes will go as far as their D carries them year on year. The O is along for the ride and needs to do "just enough"

Cook should help immensely in this regard and Bradford too. Of course the OL needs to be at least average - we'd all take that in a heart-beat. 

Hell, if I'm Sam? This is the place I'd love to finish out my career. I don't have to be a HOF QB, but I can be paired with Zimm and D personnel that good. 

Thats a nice place to be...

[Guest]

Interesting stats!  Thanks for putting that together!  It would be just as interesting to see team records when their D gives up 21 points or less.  How does that compare to the rest of the NFC?

[Guest]

@AllBS said:
Interesting stats!  Thanks for putting that together!  It would be just as interesting to see team records when their D gives up 21 points or less.  How does that compare to the rest of the NFC?

You guys are killing me...  I'll see what I can come up with over lunch.  LOL

[Guest]

Yes, thanks for pulling all that! If you want to do the entire NFC that's great, but quickly comparing the NFCN teams "over 21 scored" with their complete records:

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings:  20-3 (87%)         26-22 (54%)    Difference: +33%
2. Green Bay Packers:  30-6 (83%)         32-16 (66%)    Difference: +17%
3. Detroit Lions:  17-5  (77%)                27-21 (56%)    Difference: +21%
4. Chicago Bears:  10-11 (48%)             14-34 (29%)    Difference: +19%

My quick conclusions? EVERYONE is a lot better when they score at least 21, but the Vikings really are significantly better.