Vikings in the Middle of a Streak You Know Nothing About
Have you noticed lately that the Minnesota Vikings have not surrendered any passing touchdowns to the other team? It’s a thing, and Brian Flores’ group is knocking on the door of history.
It hasn’t looked like one headline moment so much as a weekly pattern: tighter red-zone coverage, smarter pressure timing, and opponents settling for everything except the throw that flips a game.
Minnesota has gone five consecutive games without allowing a touchdown pass to an opponent, and it’s just been overlooked because the club has a 6-8 record.
How Minnesota’s Defense Built a Rare No TD Pass Stretch
In fact, Flores’ men could make history.
Zero Passing TDs in Five Games
Against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears, the Vikings’ defense has prevented all touchdown passes. Dak Prescott, Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold, Jordan Love, and Caleb Williams have not cracked the code.
Why don’t you know about this? Well, no one cares about fun stats when the team is otherwise getting drilled at Lambeau Field and smoked in Seattle due to putrid quarterback play.
But the streak is indeed alive and well. It’s time to track it, even if it may end this weekend.
The Statistical Skinny
Here’s the history Minnesota can chase this weekend, and if applicable, beyond:
Longest Steak,
Zero Passing TDs Allowed in Game,
Since 1966:
1987 Browns: 7 Games
1976 Steelers: 7 Games
1972 Packers: 7 Games
1973 Falcons: 6 Games
1971 Browns: 6 Games
1971 Colts: 6 Games
1969 Vikings: 6 Games
2025 Vikings: 5 Games
21 Other Team: 5 Games
As you can see, from the bottom of the stat, most teams flop after five stellar games, so Minnesota will try its damndest at New York to thwart Jaxson Dart.
Not Even an Elite Secondary
The funny part? Nobody anywhere really considers the Vikings an elite secondary. The safeties include an elderly Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward. The cornerbacks? Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Fabian Moreau.
The pass rush is impressive, thanks to Jonathan Greenard (now injured), Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, and Jalen Redmond.
But none of this is 2000 Ravens or 1985 Bears personnel. It’s just a good defense with a remarkable streak.
In Line with the Young Purple People Eaters
The 1969 Vikings — yes, Purple People Eaters — accomplished the feat that the 2025 Vikings have at the moment: five games with no touchdown passes allowed. And the NFL today is much more pass-happy than the league in 1969.
Against this docket, the Vikings can make history in the Super Bowl era if they do not allow a touchdown the rest of the way. Here’s the remaining schedule:
- at New York Giants
- vs. Detroit Lions
- vs. Green Bay Packers.
It’s within Minnesota’s reach, though going three more games with zero passing touchdowns is a longshot, especially against the Lions on Christmas.
Our Janik Eckardt on the Streak
At our affiliate site PurplePTSD, Eckardt wrote about the streak, “It’s been flying under the radar, but the Vikings are currently in the midst of a historic streak. They did not allow a passing touchdown in the last five games. The last passer to do it was Lamar Jackson in Week 10. The remarkable aspect is that they didn’t face bad offenses by any means.”
“Over the course of the entire season, the Vikings rank 9th in EPA/play on defense and 6th in passing EPA/play. DVOA has them 10th in overall defense and 9th. It hasn’t been the best defense on paper, but avoiding big plays over the top and holding offenses to field goals in the red zone are the reasons for the streak without passing scores.”
One can’t help but wonder how good the Vikings could have been, or how many wins they’d have, if the offense had played decently in the first 12 weeks of the season rather than terribly. The defense has been that strong, especially at stifling passing attacks.
Eckardt added, “The Vikings made some roster adjustments in the past offseason that have helped stop the pass. Those were headlined by the signings of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who provide a boost as pass-rushers over last year’s interior defense. Jalen Redmond has emerged as a true Pro Bowl-caliber defender, making those moves afterthoughts.”
“In the secondary, Flores had to reshuffle his unit following Cam Bynum’s departure. Isaiah Rodgers replaced cornerback Stephon Gilmore.”
The Vikings take on Dart’s Giants this Sunday and are favored to win by a point or two. Minnesota has won its last five regular season games against New York.
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