The Minnesota Vikings surprised some people last season by finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record and first place in the NFC North.
They did so with a potent offense that finished sixth in passing yards and fourth in passing yards.
The Vikings also managed to win those 13 games by becoming a mighty fourth-quarter team.
They trailed quite often through three quarters, yet still managed to find a way to win.
In fact, they were the first team in decades to win at least 10 games in a single season despite trailing by over 70 combined points going into the fourth quarter, according to Warren Sharp.
this stat is INSANE
the 13-4 Vikings became the first team since at least 1990 to win double digit games despite trailing by over 70 combined points entering the 4th quarter
Minnesota lost the first 3 quarters by a combined 87 points in 2022, yet went 13-4 on the season https://t.co/qkCwZhN6uD
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 5, 2023
Perhaps the best example of this unusual feat came in Week 15 versus the struggling Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts jumped out to a seemingly insurmountable 33-0 lead at halftime, and although Minnesota was able to score two touchdowns in the third quarter, they still trailed 36-14 at the start of the fourth period.
But they caught fire afterward, scoring three more touchdowns in that period to force overtime, then converting a field goal with three seconds left in the extra period to win, 39-36.
It was such a crushing defeat for the Colts that they ended up benching quarterback Matt Ryan afterward.
The Vikings will look somewhat different this fall, as wide receiver Adam Thielen is now with the Carolina Panthers, while there are rumors that three-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook could also be headed elsewhere.
But Justin Jefferson, arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver, is still around, and he will look to keep Minnesota on top of the NFC North.
NEXT: NFL Insider Gives Latest Update On Justin Jefferson Contract Talks
