EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The best defense in the NFL resides in Minnesota.
As the Vikings worked their way toward a 13-3 season, their defense showed up week-in and week-out to produce one of the top seasons in franchise history.
Minnesota ranked first in the NFL in multiple categories, and helped the Vikings earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Here's a look at 10 numbers of note from the Vikings defense:
1 — Minnesota's defense ranked first in the NFL is three major categories: points allowed per game (15.8), yards allowed per game (275.9) and third-down defense (51 conversions on 202 attempts; 25.2 percent).
12.5 — The Vikings allowed just 12.5 points per game at home, holding four teams (the Rams, Bengals, Packers and Bears) to 10 or fewer points. Minnesota did not allow an opponent to hit the 20-point mark at U.S. Bank Stadium.
13 — Everson Griffen finished the season with a career-high 13 sacks, which was tied for fourth in the NFL. Griffen ranks seventh in Vikings history with 61 career sacks.
3 — The NFL's top-ranked defense (in terms of points allowed per game) has played in the Super Bowl in three of the past four seasons. New England (2016) and Seattle (2013) won titles, but Seattle lost in 2014.
136 — Eric Kendricks had 136 total tackles (according to coaches' tally) with 10 tackles for loss. The Vikings linebacker has led Minnesota in tackles in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.
98.9 — Vikings safety Harrison Smith's 2017 season was graded out at 98.9 by analytics site Pro Football Focus. Smith, who matched a career high with five interceptions, was the site's highest graded player of any position in the NFL and recorded the best grade ever for a safety.
20 — The Vikings allowed just 20 runs of 10-plus yards this season, which tied for the fewest in the NFL since the 1995 49ers also allowed 20 such runs. Minnesota finished second overall in run defense at 83.9 yards per game.
50-50 —When opponents got in goal-to-go situations, Minnesota allowed touchdowns just 50 percent of the time. The Vikings stuffed opponents on nine of 18 total chances inside the 10-yard line.
14 — The Vikings had seven different defenders intercept at least one pass and totaled 14 picks in 2017. Smith led the way with five Andrew Sendejo, Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes each had two picks. Kendricks took his lone interception 31 yards for a score, Mackensie Alexander recorded the first pick of his career and Terence Newman's only interception of the season gave him 42 for his career, which is second among all active players.
7 — The Vikings had seven players start all 16 games during the regular season: Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, Kendricks, Waynes, Rhodes and Smith.
