What things have happened in all three of the Vikings first three game of the year? Besides the obvious of the Vikings winning.
Three games in a row, Sam Darnold has had a QB rating over 100.
Three games in a row, Sam Darnold has had multiple TD passes.
Three games in a row, Justin Jefferson has had a TD catch.
Three games in a row, Jalen Nailor has had a TD catch.
Three games in a row, Will Reichard has had no missed kicks (On FG or EP).
Three games in a row, the opposing QB has had two turnovers.
Three games in a row, one defensive back has an interception.
Three games in a row, individuals get a total of 5 sacks. (One of the 6 sacks versus 49ers was "TEAM", not an individual)
Three games in a row, every sack was by one player, no split sacks. Typically, roughly one in four sacks are split between 2 players. Yet we've had 16 sacks with none of them split between two players, not even the "TEAM" sack.
Three games in a row, 4 of the 5 sacks were accomplished by EDGE players (OLB/DE). Check it: Versus the Giants= Van Ginkel, Turner, Pat Jones II x 2. Versus the 49ers: Van Ginkel, Greenard, Patrick Jones II x 2. Versus the Texans= Van Ginkel, Greenard x 3.
Three games in a row, one defender has had multiple sacks. Patrick Jones II versus the Giants and 49ers, Greenard versus the Texans.
Three games in a row, Andrew Van Ginkel has had a sack.
Three games in a row, Jonathan Greenard has had four or more QB Hurries, not counting his Sacks.
Three games in a row, Patrick Jones II has made plays that cost the offense yardage, 2 sacks in each of the first two games, and a Tackle Behind the Line versus the Texans.
Three games in a row, Harrison Smith has made an interception or Defended a Pass (knocked down a pass and prevented a completion). [Two of these plays were in the end zone and killed drives, one an interception and the other a 4th down stop.]
Three games in a row, Jonathan Bullard has made a Tackle Behind the Line.
These are all positive streaks! What are the odds all of these streaks will extend past four games? Approximately NIL.
What it the chance half of the streaks will extend? Slightly above NIL.
Most likely to extend? The Justin Jefferson TD streak, Sam Darnold multiple TD passes, Sam Darnold QB rating over 100, and Will Reichard not missing any kicks.
Least likely to extend? The 5 sacks per game, 4 by EDGE, all by individuals with no split sacks.
One of the most impressive things about our sacks total is the number by designated pass rushers. So often when you look at a team box score after a game it will be 2 sacks and one of them was on a safety blitz or a CB blitz or a middle linebacker blitz and these players generally ran in unblocked. EDGE and DL players getting sacks requires beating blockers. Discounting the "TEAM" sack, 14 of our 15 sacks were by EDGE and DL. By EDGE I am really saying DL. OLBs in a 3-4 are DL. To lead the league in sacks AND almost all of them are by DL is extremely impressive.
I saw a stat I can't quote with exactitude but it was something like that it had been six or eight years since the Vikings defense last had two games in a row with 5 or more sacks and at least one interception. Then we went out and did it again against the Texans.
We just need to appreciate these things because they truly are uncommon.
Do you guys remember that year way back when, when Chris Doleman and Keith Millard were on fire and ended up with 21 and 18 sacks respectively? There was a set of 3 games in which we played Detroit, Green Bay, and Detroit again and got 8 sacks in each of those games. 8 sacks per game, 3 games in a row! All versus division rivals! That third game Doleman and Millard did not get any of the 8 sacks.
Speaking of 8 sacks, the Packers had 8 of them last week. And they've gotten a lot of turnovers this year. I don't know who will win Sunday but, if we win, it will be close, not a blow out.
Of the three wins, the 49ers win is the most consequential because of possible tiebreaker scenarios for playoff placement.
None of the first three games is nearly as important as this Sunday's Packers game. Division rival and arch-rival and arch-nemesis. There is a world in which I would take a 1-3 record after 4 games as long as the win was versus the Packers versus a 3-1 record but the loss is to the Packers. Hey, I said "a world" not "this world!"
I dislike the Packers that much. Though admittedly, I cannot dislike them one fifth as much as I did when Rodgers was their QB. But we'll get him Week 5.
Root for Aaron Jones. He is the only good Aaron involved with Green Bay over the last two decades. Packers fans are psychotic about former players playing for the Vikings or for any other team. They actively root against them. A yard gained by Jones feels like ten yards to a Packers fan. Run, Aaron, run! Slide those long-run daggers into the hearts of the nasty Packers fans!
Has anyone noticed any streaks I left out? Any thoughts on streaks your "have a feeling" will end or continue? Or start?