25 Things to Know before Vikings-Browns
The Minnesota Vikings (1-2) take on the Cleveland Browns (2-1) at 1:00pm EST on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here are 25 stats, facts, and things to know leading into the NFC contest.
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- The Vikings are 12-4 all-time versus the Browns, a 75% win rate.
- Cleveland has won twice in Minnesota over the years — 1986 and 2013.
- The Vikings are third-best in yards gained leaguewide but fourth-worst in yards allowed.
- Only one offensive turnover has occurred for Minnesota in 2021 — the fewest in the NFL.
- Per a Pro Football Focus, QBR, and Passer Rating conglomeration, Kirk Cousins is the 2nd-best QB in football right now.
- The Vikings have not scored a defensive touchdown at home since Week 9 of 2018 against the Detroit Lions.
- Per FiveThirtyEight, Minnesota currently has a 39% chance to reach the postseason, an 8% spike after last weekend’s win.
- With fans in attendance, the Vikings are undefeated at U.S. Bank Stadium when they score 21 or more points. W/L = 21-0.
- Brian Hoyer is the only Browns QBs to ever throw for 300+ yards against the Vikings in a game.
- The Browns have not had a 100+ yard rusher in a game against the Vikings since 1986. Curtis Dickey.
- Tommy Kramer is the only Vikings QB to ever throw for 300+ yards in a game versus the Browns. 12/14/1980. 456 Yards + 4 TDs, 0 INTs.
- In the last three seasons the Vikings have started a season with a 2-2 record, they reached the postseason thereafter. 2015, 2017, and 2019.
- With fans in attendance, the Vikings are undefeated at U.S. Bank Stadium when scoring 14+ points by halftime.
- Per PFF, Minnesota current pass-protection ranks 16th in the NFL. In 2020, they finished 29th.
- In their last 50 respective starts, Kirk Cousins has one fewer passing touchdown than Tom Brady and three fewer interceptions.
- Through three weeks of 2021, the Vikings have the second-most 10+ yard gains (50) on offense behind the Las Vegas Raiders (59).
- Opponents complete 75.8% of passes on the Vikings. That ranks last in the NFL through three weeks.
- The Vikings rank fourth in the NFL for defensive sacks.
- Through three weeks of 2021, Minnesota allows the second-most points in the NFL to opponents in the first half, then allows the third-fewest in the second half.
- The Vikings have allowed six points total in the 4th Quarter of games thru Week 3.
- Kirk Cousins is the first QB in NFL history to throw 8+ Passing TDs to zero INTs in the first three games of a season while his team had a losing record.
- The Vikings are the first team in NFL history to score 85+ points in the first 3 games of a season while committing just one turnover or less — and have a losing record to show for it.
- The Vikings are 8-3 in the month of October since Kirk Cousins became the starting QB in 2018.
- For the entirety of his career, Dalvin Cook averages 5.4 yards per touch. Alexander Mattison averages 5.1 in his career.
- Adam Thielen has scored a touchdown in 72% of games since the start of 2020.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
