Vikings Snakebitten by Weird Tendency
If you watch Minnesota Vikings games on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, and it always feels like other teams convert field goals against the purple team, you’re about to be vindicated.
The numbers check out as the Vikings are snakebitten by the weird tendency. Put simply, kickers convert field goals versus Minnesota more successfully than they do against other teams. Another way to think of it — opposing kickers miss very few field goals against the Vikings.
[brid video=”1018706″ player=”30316″ title=”Ranking%20the%20Vikings%20Rookies%20in%20Terms%20of%202022%20Impact” duration=”974″ description=”Dustin Baker ranks the Vikings 2022 rookies for immediate impact, counting down five to one.” uploaddate=”2022-05-24″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1018706_th_1653414829.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1018706.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Here’s the deal: since 2015, the Vikings have the highest field-goal-percentage-against leaguewide. Opposing teams connect on field goals 88.7% of the time. Kickers versus the Vikings only miss 11.3% of field goals. These are the leaders — in a bad way — for field-goal-percentage-against:
Field Goal Percentage Against,
Since 2015:
- Vikings (88.7%)
- Bears (87.9%)
- Falcons (87.3%)
- Eagles (86.4%)
- Cardinals (86.3%)
- Bills (86.1%)
- Packers (86.1%)
- Bengals (85.8%)
For clarity, if you’re watching games involving the Vikings, Bears, Falcons, etc., opposing kickers are more likely to convert field goals against the teams listed above.
Aside from not blocking many field goals, there is no real rhyme or reason for this tendency. It’s just bad luck, perhaps derived from mediocre or bad special teams. Minnesota also plays indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium, so that doesn’t throw off opposing kickers as much as outdoor elements.
Similarly, the Vikings also rank last in the NFL since 2015 in extra points converted against. Opposing kickers drill extra points 96.8% of the time — more so than any other opponent in the NFL.
Extra Point Percentage Against,
Since 2015:
- Vikings (96.8%)
- Rams (96.1%)
- Bengals (95.8%)
- Giants (95.7%)
- Buccaneers (95.5%)
- Cardinals (95.2%)
- Texans (95.1%)
- Patriots (94.8%)
This news is wildly unsurprising to Vikings fans as anything related to kicking — for or against — is seemingly guaranteed to cause anxiety. Throughout team history, especially since 1998, the Vikings undoing at critical junctures of meaningful games has been caused by a missed kick or an opponent converting a game-winning kick. Such incidents lead Vikings fans to cynicism, particularly involving kickers and kickers against the franchise.
So, what is the moral of the story? Easy. In the last seven seasons, if an opposing kicker is on the docket to attempt a field goal or extra point against Minnesota, the ball is probably going through the uprights. The numbers confirm it — at a clip greater than any other NFL franchise.
When the ball is snapped and you can feel it in your bones the other team is about the make the kick — whether it’s a field goal or an extra point — your fears are rational.
The Vikings will attempt to change this tendency in September when they host the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Although, nobody expects “the streak” to taper off.
And for context, the New England Patriots are the inverse of the Vikings for field-goals-against. Since 2015, opposing kickers convert field goals 77.1% of the time, the lowest in the NFL during the timeframe.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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).
Vikings Territory Also Read: Kevin O’Connell’s Hilarious Reaction to QB’s TD
You must be logged in to post a comment.