The Vikings finished 2020 with a 7-9 mark and are heading back to the drawing board for 2021.
A number of "big numbers" helped define a wild and unconventional season. Here's a look at 20:
Points
12,692
Total points scored in the NFL this season, the most in NFL history.
The Vikings offense and defense had a role in this, with Minnesota scoring 430 points and allowing 475. The points for and points against are the third-most in franchise history.
6,339
Road teams set an NFL record this season, scoring more points than they ever have before and accounting for 49.9 percent of 2020's total. The Vikings scored 199 points (24.9 per game) at opponents' stadiums.
Touchdowns
1,469
Total touchdowns were scored in 2020, an average of 45.9 per team to fuel the scoring record.
55
The Vikings scored 55 offensive touchdowns, which ranks second only to the 58 by the record-breaking 1998 squad. That's a lot of "The Griddy."
35
The Vikings scored 35 of their touchdowns through the air for the third-most passing touchdowns in a season in team history. (Kirk Cousins set a new career high by throwing all 35, the second most by a Vikings quarterback in team history.)
30
Opponents threw 30 touchdowns against the Vikings, which is tied for the seventh-most in a season (2004).
20
Minnesota's 20 rushing touchdowns tied the 1987 team for the fifth-most in a season in team history.
19
Opponents totaled 19 rushing touchdowns, the eighth-most in a Vikings season. New Orleans scored seven of those in Week 16 against a defense missing most of the players who had teamed to only allow eight rushing scores in all of 2019.
0
The Vikings recorded zero touchdowns on returns of any kind (fumble recovery, interception, kick return, punt return, punt block). It was the first time that Minnesota had not scored at least one touchdown on a return since 2000. Opponents totaled four return touchdowns against the Vikings.
Yards
393.3
The Vikings offense averaged 393.3 yards per game, which ranked fourth in the NFL in 2020.
Ugh, 393.3 — again
The Vikings defense allowed an average of 393.3 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the NFL in 2020. That's right, Minnesota netted 6,292 yards and allowed 6,292 net yards.
4.88
The Vikings averaged 4.88 yards per run play, which ranked fourth in the NFL and helped Minnesota finish 2020 with 2,283 rushing yards, which was 150 more than in 2019 when the Vikings ran the ball eight more times.
7.77
The Vikings averaged 7.77 yards per pass attempt, which ranked third in the NFL in 2020. Unfortunately, the 7.65 yards allowed per pass attempt by Minnesota's defense ranked 30th in the league.
3,000 + 1,000 + 1,000
For just the eighth time in franchise history, the Vikings had a 3,000 yard passer (Cousins, 4,265), 1,000-yard rusher (Dalvin Cook, 1,557) and 1,000-yard receiver (Justin Jefferson, 1,400). It was just the second time in franchise history that a passer (Warren Moon in 1994) threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season with a 1,000-yard rusher (Terry Allen) and 1,000-yard receiver (Cris Carter and Jake Reed).
Fourth Downs
23
The Vikings went for it on 23 fourth downs, the most in a season in franchise history.
13
Minnesota converted 13 of those fourth downs for the second-most in a season in franchise history, but the success rate of 56.5 ranked ninth in franchise history and 17th in the NFL in 2020.
24
Vikings opponents went for it on 24 fourth downs during the 2020 season.
17
Opponents converted 17 of those attempts for a success rate of 70.83 percent. That allowance ranked 30th in the NFL in 2020.
Red zone
71.19
The Vikings offense scored a touchdown on 42 of 59 possessions in the red zone, good for a percentage of 71.19 that ranked sixth in the NFL. Opponents scored touchdowns on 34 of 58 possessions inside the Minnesota 20-yard line. The Vikings allowance rate of 58.62 ranked 11th in the NFL.
Turnover margin
-1
The Vikings finished the season with 22 takeaways and 23 giveaways for a turnover margin of minus-1, which ranked 20th in the NFL. Minnesota took care of the football better after its bye weed but was unable to erase a horrendous start (minus-7 through the first six games in which the Vikings went 1-5). Eleven of the top 12 teams in turnover margin (plus-4 or better for all) made the playoffs. The only one that didn't was the 10-win Miami Dolphins, who narrowly missed the postseason.
