EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings can sit back and relax this weekend.
Minnesota is coming off a key 24-9 division win over the Lions on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, a victory that featured a **franchise-record 10 sacks** by the defense.
The Vikings are 5-3-1 and 1-0-1 in the NFC North, second in the division.
Minnesota resumes play in Week 11 at division leader Chicago (5-3).
Here's a look at 10 numbers of note heading into the bye week:
7 — The Vikings improved to 5-3-1 after Sunday's win over the Lions. Seven of the past nine teams to have that record have qualified for the postseason. Coincidentally, the last team to be at 5-3-1 was Washington in 2016, when Kirk Cousins was the quarterback. The Redskins missed the playoffs that season.
4 — The Vikings will play four divisional games over their final seven contests. Minnesota will face Chicago twice [at Chicago in Week 11; at home in Week 17] and will host Green Bay in Week 12. Minnesota will travel to Detroit in Week 16.
78 — Adam Thielen leads the league with 78 catches for 947 yards. He is on pace to set a franchise record with 138 receptions in a single season.
11.5 — Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter leads the NFL with 11.5 sacks, which is one off his career high. Hunter had a single-game best of 3.5 sacks Sunday, and now has 37 in 55 career games [26 starts].
6 — Minnesota's defense ranks sixth in yards allowed per game (322.2). The Vikings allowed 381.5 yards per game in the first month of the season but have rebounded by giving up just 274.8 yards per game over the past five contests.
10 — Minnesota has forced 10 turnovers over its past five games. That's an uptick from the four takeaways the Vikings had in the first four games of the season. All-Pro safety Harrison Smith leads Minnesota with three interceptions.
9.0 — Punt returner Marcus Sherels is averaging 9.0 yards per punt return this season, as he has 126 yards on 14 returns. Sherels ranks 10th in the league in that category. He has finished in the top 10 in punt-return average four times in his career [2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017].
1 — The Vikings defense ranks first in the league with a third-down percentage of 25.7, as Minnesota has stopped opponents on 26 of 101 third downs. The Vikings have been even better in the past five games, stopping 49 of the past 62 third-down tries [20.96 percent] by opposing offenses.
102.2 — Cousins has completed 259 of 363 passes (71.3 percent) for 2,685 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Cousins, who is tied for third in the NFL in passing yards, also has a career-high quarterback rating of 102.2.
70 — Vikings running back Dalvin Cook ripped off a 70-yard run Sunday against the Lions. It was a career long for Cook, who had 89 yards on 10 carries.
