Category: Records

Vikings tie NFL record they previously matched in 2021

One-score games continue to haunt the Vikings

Close games have become commonplace for the Minnesota Vikings over the last few seasons. The 2023 Vikings are a prime example.

During the first 15 games of the season, the Vikings tied an NFL record with 14 games decided by one score. That matched the mark held by three other teams:

  • 2021 Vikings
  • 2015 Baltimore Ravens
  • 1994 New York Giants

When you pair last year’s Vikings with the two squads that had 14 one-score games, they have had 39 one-score games in their last 49 games played. It’s a tough way to live in the National Football League when any team can win on a given week.

If the Vikings want to take a step forward, they need to put teams away and not let so many games come down to the last possession.

This will be a big thing to monitor for head coach Kevin O’Connell, as 25 of his 32 games as a head coach have been decided by one score.

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Vikings-Raiders was the lowest-scoring indoor game in NFL history

History was made on Sunday afternoon that would make Mike Zimmer proud

If you think it was a historically low-scoring game, you thought correctly. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported that the meeting between the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders was the lowest-scoring indoor game in NFL history.

The closest we’ve been are three instances of six combined points between 1980 and 1987. The three combined points for this matchup will likely be the standard for defensive domination or offensive ineptitude indoors however you choose to interpret it.

As Seifert stated, veteran backup quarterback Nick Mullens and rookie linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. are the two heroes of this unusual yet remarkable story.

Mullens came in to relieve the struggling Josh Dobbs after he started a third-straight game in underwhelming fashion. Mullens ended the game 9-of-13 for 83 yards, but his ability to keep the offense moving was enough to get Minnesota in field goal range to put the only points of the game on the board.

Pace was everywhere, causing havoc against the Las Vegas front. He ended the day with a team-leading 13 tackles (7 solo) with a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit. Immediately after the field goal, Pace got his interception that helped seal the victory for Minnesota.

It was ugly, very ugly. It was a couple of moments away from reaching unwatchable territory. But even if it wasn’t visually appealing, a win is a win at the end of the day.

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Justin Jefferson breaks Vikings record in first game back

Jeffferson continues to break records for the Vikings

In his first game back, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson officially passes Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss for the most receiving yards by a Viking in their first four seasons.

Jefferson was tied with Moss before he left the game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven weeks. Before he was sidelined, Jefferson was the focal point of this offense, and for good reason. Jefferson has been the heartbeat of this passing attack outside of Kirk Cousins. Kevin O’Connell enjoys utilizing the former All-Pro in various ways, stretching defenses vertically and horizontally with his versatility.

Unfortunately, his record-breaking day is clouded with uncertainty as he had to leave this game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a chest injury. He is currently questionable to return.

Hopefully, he can build on his record-setting day sooner rather than later.

Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live game updates.

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Josh Dobbs’ touchdown run vs. Broncos makes NFL history

On Sunday night, Vikings QB Josh Dobbs did something no other QB in the history of the NFL had pulled off

The Josh Dobbs story continues to be incredible. Dobbs has come in for the Minnesota Vikings under extraordinary circumstances, and has made the most of the opportunity — and then some. That magic has extended into tonight’s game against the Denver Broncos.

With his rushing score, Dobbs became the first quarterback in NFL history to have a rushing and passing touchdown in each of his first three games with a team.

Early in the second quarter, Dobbs put the Vikings on the board with an incredible touchdown. Dobbs escaped the pocket toward the sideline, then ducked under what looked like a sure sack to find tight end Josh Oliver in the end zone.

In the third quarter, Dobbs put the Vikings on the board again, this time with his legs. Dobbs surveyed the field, calmly decided nothing was open, and took off toward the end zone for a 10-yard score. With that score, Dobbs did something no quarterback has ever done and headed into the NFL record books.

It’s been a storybook start to Dobbs’ career with the Vikings, but there’s still work to be done tonight if he’s going to lead Minnesota to their sixth straight win.

T.J. Hockenson set an NFL record in the first half vs. Saints

Despite dealing with a painful rib injury, Hockenson managed to set an NFL record

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has been an integral piece of the Vikings offense all season, and that was no different on Sunday against the Saints. In fact, he was even more a piece of the offense on Sunday than usual.

Hockenson became the first tight end in NFL history to have 10 or more receptions, 125 or more yards, and a touchdown in a single half with his first-half against the Saints.

It’s fair to say that Hockenson was everywhere on Sunday, and that he and new quarterback Josh Dobbs were able to build a significant rapport with each other over the week. Unfortunately, the success they had in the first half was not able to carry over to the second.

Despite the record-setting first half for Hockenson, he was held to only one reception for six yards in the second half. Still, both he and Dobbs would tell you that getting the win is more important than individual stats.

We’ll see what the record-setting tight end has in store for us next week when the Vikings face off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

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The Vikings set multiple records in Week 16 win vs. Giants

It’s isn’t every week that you set an NFL record, but the Vikings are finding a way to make it a common occurrence

Yes, we are living in a world where the Minnesota Vikings are 12-3. No, it’s not a Christmas miracle, it’s our actual reality.

In the first 15 games, the Vikings have been up and down in getting to an .800 winning percentage. The one thing that they have done is break records.

The Vikings continued that on Saturday against the New York Giants and broke multiple records in the final home game of the 2022 regular season.