4 Statistics the Vikings Must Maintain in 2023
Last week, we talked about a few statistics that must change for the Vikings in the 2023 season. However, there is a reason they went 13-4 last season and won the NFC North. There were a number of things they did well in 2022, so here are four statistics the Vikings must maintain in 2023.
Turnovers Forced
In 2022, the Vikings consistently found ways to get timely turnovers to bring their offense back on the field. In all, they forced 25 turnovers last year, tying for eighth in the league. While they will need to replace the production of Patrick Peterson, who put together 5 interceptions last year, including a game-winning pick to seal Minnesota’s victory against the Buffalo Bills, there are still playmakers on the defense.
Foremost amongst them is Harrison Smith, who had 5 picks of his own during this past season. It was his second 5-INT season in the past three years. Jordan Hicks has also recorded 12 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles over the course of his eight-year career.
Third Down Conversion Rate
One of the best ways to make sure a team wins games is to maintain prolonged drives. The Vikings were one of the very best in the NFL during 2022 at converting on third downs, successfully converting on 41.2% of their attempts last year. This was good for 12th in the league, so certainly there’s a bit of room for improvement, but it’s much better to be in the top half of the league rather than the bottom.
Red Zone TDs
In part due to their success on third downs, the Vikings consistently found themselves in the red zone last year. Their 64 red zone drives ranked third in the league behind only the Kansas City Chiefs (72) and Detroit Lions (68).
More often than not, these drives finished with touchdowns as well, with 40 red zone TDs by the end of the regular season. This red zone TD percentage of 62.5% was good for eighth in the NFL and is the main reason that the Vikings found themselves as the seventh-highest scoring team in the league. Kevin O’Connell’s creative offensive scheme needs to continue getting the job done in this area during 2023.
Everything in the Fourth Quarter
Say what you will about the Vikings and getting “lucky” last year, but they were absolutely incredible across the board in the fourth quarter during the 2022 season. Here’s just a few statistics where they ranked near the top of the league to close games:
- Points scored: 1st (9.2 per game)
- Points allowed: 11th (5.4 per game)
- Offense EPA/play: 2nd (0.092)
- Defense EPA/play: 6th (-0.159)
When things come together like this down the stretch of games, it’s no wonder that Minnesota managed to win 11 one-possession games last year. Kirk Cousins was elite in the fourth quarter, and even the defense became a great group when it truly mattered. It would be incredible to see the defense approach this type of play on a more regular basis, but especially in pressure-filled moments, this type of play is what turns teams into contenders.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.