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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

5 Vikings Special Teams Numbers of Note: Gedeon Led Team in ST Tackles

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View the Vikings best special teams photos of 2017.

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings produced another solid season on special teams in 2017, as the third phase of the team helped Minnesota win the NFC North.

While the Vikings did allow a punt return for a score (on a wacky play in Week 17), Minnesota's coverage units were stout for most of the season.

Minnesota's kicking game, meanwhile, played a key role in helping the Viking get to 13 wins and secure a first-round bye.

Here's a look at five numbers of note from the Vikings special teams units:

0 — Ryan Quigley had zero touchbacks on his 71 punt attempts in 2017, which tied an NFL record set by Sav Rocca in 2013. In Quigley's first season with Minnesota, he tied for 10th with 29 punts that ended up inside the 20-yard line.

6 — Kai Forbath nailed six field goals of 50-plus yards in 2017, which tied for the second-most in a season in team history with Ryan Longwell (2008) and Blair Walsh (2015). Forbath was 6-for-9 on such kicks this season. Forbath also made six field goals in one game, including two from 50-plus, against Baltimore.

9.5 — Marcus Sherels averaged 9.5 yards per punt return, the seventh-best mark in the league. The Minnesota native has averaged at least nine yards per return in six of his seven seasons in the NFL, and is the Vikings all-time leader with five punt returns for touchdowns.

3 — For the first time in three seasons, Minnesota did not have a kickoff or punt return for a score. The Vikings had six total returns for touchdowns in 2015 and 2016.

18 — Vikings rookie linebacker Ben Gedeon led Minnesota with 18 total tackles on special teams (according to coaches' tally). The fourth-round pick out of Michigan was also a starter in Minnesota's base defense.

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