[OC] 2 Minute Failure: Much Bad … Very Choke … So Vikes
Dec 24, 2021 10:28:16 GMT -6
Funkytown, HunterMorrow, and 7 more like this
Post by Reignman on Dec 24, 2021 10:28:16 GMT -6
Congratulations Mike, you dun did it. 
Add another dubious record to the books for the Vikings. All 9 points by the Bears came at the end of a half on Monday night, so that makes 110 for the year, which ties the 2001 Colts record (since 1998) ... with 3 whole games to go. Too bad the refs didn't make the Bears kick that last PAT or the record could have been all ours.
Yes, contrary to the popular narrative, the 2020 Vikings didn't own the record at 107, surprisingly. That was only 3rd worst. The Chargers allowed 108 in 2001 as well. What the hell was going on in 2001? "Some people did something" that year I guess.
But yes, I'm sure everyone has heard by now, that the Vikings suck in the final 2 minutes of either half. It's been beaten to death, but unlike everyone else, I dive a little deeper to see just how bad it is, historically. And it is. And not just 2021. The Zimmer era has been fraught with 2 minute futility, on both sides of the ball. I wonder if taking knees and playing prevent had anything to do with it?
I crunched the numbers for all 763 teams and 142k regular season drives since 1998, 142,350 to be exact, up through week 15, and pulled out every bit of info that seemed relevant to this exercise in futility. Which was no easy task. My brand new 5600x is still smoking from shaking it's head so often.
The real issue here is just before half. The Vikings have now given up a team record 75 points in the final 2 minutes before half. The 2020 squad gave up 70, and the record is 76 set by the 2001 Colts, which was matched by the 2018 Bengals. Less than a FG away boys. To put that into perspective, the most Frazier ever gave up before half was 39 in 2011 (253rd), and 72 in both halves combined in 2013 (104th). To be fair, we gave him 5 fewer tries than Zimmer to become this bad, so we can only speculate what he could have achieved.
All year people have talked about how the Vikings are just 4 plays from being 11-3, but if you just get a few more stops before half, the Vikings would have 4 more wins too (CIN, ARZ, BAL, DET), and possibly 5 if you take away the 49ers TD and Zimmer doesn't chase 2 point conversions the rest of the game. It's not bad luck, it's a failed philosophy and poor game management.
But to really appreciate just how bad it's been, we have to take a look at the end of half offense too because they kinda go hand in hand. Our offense is 2nd worst this year in scoring points before half with just 16. That's 52nd worst since 1998 and tied for the Vikings team worst (2010). The 2021 Giants are sitting there with a big fat 0 lol. Not even a FG. No team has gone an entire year without scoring a point in the final 2 minutes of the 1st half. Go Giants!
The inability of the offense to move the chains against prevent defense (or taking a knee) combined with the inability of the defense to make a stop has combined to create this perfect storm of 2 minute failure. The -59 net points before half is 2nd worst since 1998 (2012 Jaguars -63). The -72 net points in both halves is the 2nd worst (2001 Chargers -75). At -41 the 2020 squad was only 35th worst btw. Woo hoo! Another record in reach ladies.
Up next, I take a closer look at the entire Zimmer era. Spoiler alert, 2017 was a good 2 minute year, but it's looking more and more like an anomaly. 2014 was decent too, but the other 6 years, not so much. Just a whole lot of bad luck I guess. Yeah that's it, nothing to do with philosophy.
Here are the top 15 most scoring drives allowed before half (FG + TD) since 1998. Spot any patterns?
So you can see, it hasn't just been Zimmer. Tice, Childress, and Frazier were all bad at finishing halves too, but Zimmer has taken it to a whole new level. A historically bad level. Zimmerball!!!
Stay tuned.
***UPDATED THRU WEEK 18***
Add another dubious record to the books for the Vikings. All 9 points by the Bears came at the end of a half on Monday night, so that makes 110 for the year, which ties the 2001 Colts record (since 1998) ... with 3 whole games to go. Too bad the refs didn't make the Bears kick that last PAT or the record could have been all ours.
Yes, contrary to the popular narrative, the 2020 Vikings didn't own the record at 107, surprisingly. That was only 3rd worst. The Chargers allowed 108 in 2001 as well. What the hell was going on in 2001? "Some people did something" that year I guess.
But yes, I'm sure everyone has heard by now, that the Vikings suck in the final 2 minutes of either half. It's been beaten to death, but unlike everyone else, I dive a little deeper to see just how bad it is, historically. And it is. And not just 2021. The Zimmer era has been fraught with 2 minute futility, on both sides of the ball. I wonder if taking knees and playing prevent had anything to do with it?
I crunched the numbers for all 763 teams and 142k regular season drives since 1998, 142,350 to be exact, up through week 15, and pulled out every bit of info that seemed relevant to this exercise in futility. Which was no easy task. My brand new 5600x is still smoking from shaking it's head so often.
The real issue here is just before half. The Vikings have now given up a team record 75 points in the final 2 minutes before half. The 2020 squad gave up 70, and the record is 76 set by the 2001 Colts, which was matched by the 2018 Bengals. Less than a FG away boys. To put that into perspective, the most Frazier ever gave up before half was 39 in 2011 (253rd), and 72 in both halves combined in 2013 (104th). To be fair, we gave him 5 fewer tries than Zimmer to become this bad, so we can only speculate what he could have achieved.
All year people have talked about how the Vikings are just 4 plays from being 11-3, but if you just get a few more stops before half, the Vikings would have 4 more wins too (CIN, ARZ, BAL, DET), and possibly 5 if you take away the 49ers TD and Zimmer doesn't chase 2 point conversions the rest of the game. It's not bad luck, it's a failed philosophy and poor game management.
But to really appreciate just how bad it's been, we have to take a look at the end of half offense too because they kinda go hand in hand. Our offense is 2nd worst this year in scoring points before half with just 16. That's 52nd worst since 1998 and tied for the Vikings team worst (2010). The 2021 Giants are sitting there with a big fat 0 lol. Not even a FG. No team has gone an entire year without scoring a point in the final 2 minutes of the 1st half. Go Giants!
The inability of the offense to move the chains against prevent defense (or taking a knee) combined with the inability of the defense to make a stop has combined to create this perfect storm of 2 minute failure. The -59 net points before half is 2nd worst since 1998 (2012 Jaguars -63). The -72 net points in both halves is the 2nd worst (2001 Chargers -75). At -41 the 2020 squad was only 35th worst btw. Woo hoo! Another record in reach ladies.
Up next, I take a closer look at the entire Zimmer era. Spoiler alert, 2017 was a good 2 minute year, but it's looking more and more like an anomaly. 2014 was decent too, but the other 6 years, not so much. Just a whole lot of bad luck I guess. Yeah that's it, nothing to do with philosophy.
Here are the top 15 most scoring drives allowed before half (FG + TD) since 1998. Spot any patterns?
So you can see, it hasn't just been Zimmer. Tice, Childress, and Frazier were all bad at finishing halves too, but Zimmer has taken it to a whole new level. A historically bad level. Zimmerball!!!
Stay tuned.
***UPDATED THRU WEEK 18***
It's so bad the net is almost dead last as well.
