The 2019 Minnesota Vikings and the early 1970s Vikings

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RyanChristiansen
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The 2019 Minnesota Vikings and the early 1970s Vikings

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In game 1 of the 2019 season, the Minnesota Vikings accrued only 98 passing yards and scored a 28-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

This is only one game, but you'll remember offensive coordinator John DeFelippo was fired last season because head coach Mike Zimmer wanted him to focus on running the ball, and said so publicly, but DeFelippo didn't comply. During the offseason, the Vikings hired Gary Kubiak to be assistant coach, and Kubiak brought along Rick Dennison to be the "Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator." The Vikings also acquired offensive linemen who are suited for zone blocking schemes and they drafted rookie running back Alexander Mattison who ran in zone blocking schemes. Meanwhile, the new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski changed up the playbook to focus on play-action pass and using 12 personnel (a.k.a. "Ace") offensive formations with two tight ends and one running back. Cousins had better success in the past with play-action.

Small sample, but so far so good for the Vikings.

The last time the Vikings won a game with 98 passing yards or less was against Green Bay in the 2015 season playoffs, and they've won only 9 games since the 1977 season with 98 or fewer passing yards.

The seasons when the Vikings won the most games while passing for 98 yards or less in each game:

1971: 6 games
1969: 5 games
1970: 4 games
1973: 3 games

These also happen to be the four Vikings seasons with the least points allowed

1969: 133
1971: 139
1970: 143
1973: 168

It will be fun to see how this all plays out.
"Five seconds to go... A field goal could win it. Up in the air! Going deep! Tipped! Caught! Touchdown! The Vikings! They win it! Time has run out!" - Vikings 28, Browns 23, December 14, 1980, Metropolitan Stadium
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