Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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3. Yards per play, time of possession & plays in opponents’ territory
OK, so that’s actually three different stats, but they seemed to work in unison on a night of putrid productivity.
The Vikings netted 139 yards on 53 plays (2.6 yards per play, which was less than half of the 6.00 they averaged through the first 14 games of 2019). Take out a 21-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs, a 28-yard pass to the receiver and a 14-yard run by Abdullah on a third-and-19, and that means Minnesota netted 76 yards on 50 plays (1.5 yards per play).
The Packers netted 383 yards on 75 plays for an average of 5.1.
A big disparity in time of possession should follow when a team runs 22 more offensive plays than an opponent, and that was certainly the case Monday. Green Bay held the ball for 37:32 of 60 minutes, thanks to 184 rushing yards and the short passing game.
Lastly, the number of plays that Minnesota ran on the Green Bay side of the 50 and vice-versa was hard to ignore.
The Packers ran 30 plays (40 percent) in positive territory, compared to 13 (24.5 percent) by the Vikings and just two snaps in the entire second half — an interception and a sack.
Green Bay even got one of its two touchdowns in minus territory on the 56-yarder by Jones. Minnesota appeared to do the same on a 53-yard touchdown pass to Bisi Johnson, but officials flagged Riley Reiff for a holding penalty.
Instead of cutting the lead to 23-16 (or 23-17 with a PAT), the Vikings punted with 3:41 remaining in the game.