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When it comes to the Minnesota Vikings defense under head coach Mike Zimmer, it is no secret that it's statistically one of the best units we've seen in recent memory. Exactly how great is it this season compared to other defenses?
According to one Twitter user by the name of Krauser, the Vikings (11-3) have put up the best defensive numbers of the 21st century in one very important category: third-down percentage.
Vikings 3rd down defense is the best the NFL has seen this century.
Best 3rd down % by year:
2000 TEN 31%
01 NYG 30
02 PHI 31
03 TEN 28
04 CHI 30
05 ATL 30
06 BAL 29
07 KC 31
08 PIT 31
09 NYJ 32
10 NYG 32
11 ARI 31
12 DEN 31
13 DET 30
14 BUF 33
15 HOU 28
16 TB 34
2017 MIN 26%— Krauser (@Krauserrific) December 18, 2017
Yes, you read that correctly. Since 2000, the Vikings’ stellar defense has allowed a 26.3 percent success rate on third downs this season, which is the best the NFL has seen this century. Keeping their offense rested is what Minnesota has been best at and they will look to carry this deep into the playoffs.
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From top to bottom on the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings don't seem to have very many weaknesses. As a unit, the great Minnesota defense has given up the second-fewest points in the league with 17.3 per game, are second in the NFL against the run and third against the run.
On a separate note, one number that is pretty astonishing is the massive dropoff in production when it comes to the Tampa Buccaneers' third-down defense over the last two seasons. In the 2016-17 season, the Bucs' defense was able to force fourth down on a league-best 34.4 percent of the time. However, during this season's 2017-18 campaign, Tampa Bay's third-down defense has plummeted to a league-worst by a wide margin at 49.2 percent.
The Vikings locked up the NFC North division and have their eyes set on clinching a bye in the playoffs with a win against the Green Bay Packers (7-7) on Saturday night at Lambeau Field. The Packers shut down superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the rest of the season earlier on Tuesday after they were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in nine years on Monday night.
Especially after the Philadelphia Eagles lost their MVP candidate in quarterback Carson Wentz for the year during Week 14, the Vikings can realistically get a stranglehold on the NFC.
