Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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The Vikings ranked first in the NFL on third-down percentage in 2017 (25.25 percent) and in 2018 (30.53 percent), but slipped to 19th in the league in 2019 with a success percentage of (39.72).
Barnwell said while Minnesota hasn’t been as stout on third downs in recent years, that’s likely because the Vikings have given up more yards on first and second downs.
He also noted that the Vikings will need consistent play from their secondary, along with a healthy Eric Kendricks, in order to get past the Saints and march on in the postseason.
Barnwell wrote:
Teams haven't needed to pick up as many yards as they did in prior years; opposing offenses have needed to pick up only 6.5 yards to convert on third downs against the Vikings this season, the second-fewest yards required on third down in football. From 2017-18, Vikings opponents needed 7.6 yards to convert their third downs, the third-longest average mark in football.
With Minnesota's cornerbacks struggling for most of the season, this isn't the same defense we've seen in years past. And if linebacker Eric Kendricks isn't able to play Sunday after leaving the Packers game with a quadriceps injury, it won't be anywhere near as good of a defense as the Vikings were during the regular season.
Kendricks had his best season in 2019 and deserved to be a Pro Bowler; he hasn't practiced since suffering the injury in Week 16, and the Packers were able to repeatedly exploit his absence after he left. You can imagine what Sean Payton is planning.
The Vikings finished 14th in the league allowing 341.6 total yards per game, but a strong red-zone performance helped Minnesota tie for fifth with 18.9 points allowed per game.
Kickoff between the Vikings and Saints is at 12:05 p.m. (CT) Sunday from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.