Stefanski Returns As Vikings OC!

The good news is, the 2018 Vikings weren't the worst 3-n-out team in recent memory, the bad news is, Stefanski was much worse than Flipper.

The Vikings had 54 virtual 3-n-outs which was 4th worst in the league this year. Virtual 3-n-out basically meaning 3 offensive plays with no first down, and the drive ending in a punt, FG attempt, fumble, INT, downs, safety, etc. Only the Jets (68), Cardinals (62), and Bills (57) had more. Seattle tied us with 54.

The Saints had the fewest in the league at 27, followed by the Rams 28, and Chiefs 29. Oddly enough the Bucs were 4th best at 30. The Rams had the fewest conventional 3-n-outs at 19 (3 plays and a punt).

The 54 3-n-outs meant the Vikings went 3-n-out on 28.7% of their drives, which was 5th worst. Stefanski went 3-n-out on 13 of 35 drives, or 37.1% which would be worst in the league. The Jets were at 34.2% for the season.

And the Vikings weren't even close to being the worst team in recent memory, which surprised me. That title belongs to the 2005 49ers, spearheaded by none other than the QB whisperer himself, Mike McCarthy (who was their OC at the time), had an astounding 89 3-n-outs, or 45.2% of their drives. 77 of those were the conventional 3 plays and a punt. The Packers hired him as their HC the following year, so go figure.

The Vikings worst 3-n-out season since 2004 came in 2006, where they had 64 (32.5%), which was tied for 36th worst out of 480 teams during that time. So the 2018 Vikings were only the 2nd worst Vikings team, and only the 146th worst overall. The 2008 Colts were the best with only 22 3-n-outs. The 2004 Vikings only had 28 (16.7%), and last year we finished with 46 (24.9%). The 2009 Vikings were the 4th worst Vikings team with 52 (27.1%). The 2015 Vikings were the 2nd best Vikings team with only 29 3-n-outs (16.6%). Technically the best percentage wise.