2021 last two minutes of each half
Jul 26, 2022 22:06:00 GMT -6
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Funkytown, HunterMorrow, and 2 more like this
Post by Positively Purple on Jul 26, 2022 22:06:00 GMT -6
A lot has been commented since the end of 2021 season on the historic stat of points allowed by the defense in the final two minutes of each half. But what happened on the offensive side of the ball prior to those defensive lapses?
This question was posed recently on Twitter so I decided to go back and see. The theory is that the offense, whether one wants to blame Cousins (most) or Kubiak, must have faltered which then placed additional pressure on the defense, setting that unit up to fail.
Let’s see. Now, I excluded week 17 as Cousins was not in that game.
Out of 16 games, the Vikings defense gave up points in the final two minutes of each half on a total of 24 drives. So right off the bat, you figure a team possesses the ball at least once in the final two minutes of each half. That would be 32 drives. So in 24 of that average 32, the defense gave up points.
So what happened on the drive before by the offense?
Here’s the list:
3 & out with OL penalty: 2
3 & out with 2 runs: 2
3 & out with 2 passes: 4
Punts (>3 plays): 4
Downs (>3 plays): 2
Fumbles (by RBs): 2
TDs: 4
FGs Made: 4
So the offense actually scored points 33% of the time in the drive just before the defense would fold.
Only 33% of the plays resulted in a 3 & out.
Notice the stat that’s missing? In zero of the prior drives did Cousins throw an interception. Zero. In addition, in only 16.7% of the drives did the Vikings offense go 3 & out while attempting 2 passes.
Do what you want with these stats. IMO, the issue with the defense in the final two minutes in each half has little to do with ineffectiveness of the offense.
I’d love to see a stat as to the average starting position of the opponent’s offense on those drives they scored on. I believe that would be very telling and shed additional light that the defense was the unit that failed us the most last year.
This question was posed recently on Twitter so I decided to go back and see. The theory is that the offense, whether one wants to blame Cousins (most) or Kubiak, must have faltered which then placed additional pressure on the defense, setting that unit up to fail.
Let’s see. Now, I excluded week 17 as Cousins was not in that game.
Out of 16 games, the Vikings defense gave up points in the final two minutes of each half on a total of 24 drives. So right off the bat, you figure a team possesses the ball at least once in the final two minutes of each half. That would be 32 drives. So in 24 of that average 32, the defense gave up points.
So what happened on the drive before by the offense?
Here’s the list:
3 & out with OL penalty: 2
3 & out with 2 runs: 2
3 & out with 2 passes: 4
Punts (>3 plays): 4
Downs (>3 plays): 2
Fumbles (by RBs): 2
TDs: 4
FGs Made: 4
So the offense actually scored points 33% of the time in the drive just before the defense would fold.
Only 33% of the plays resulted in a 3 & out.
Notice the stat that’s missing? In zero of the prior drives did Cousins throw an interception. Zero. In addition, in only 16.7% of the drives did the Vikings offense go 3 & out while attempting 2 passes.
Do what you want with these stats. IMO, the issue with the defense in the final two minutes in each half has little to do with ineffectiveness of the offense.
I’d love to see a stat as to the average starting position of the opponent’s offense on those drives they scored on. I believe that would be very telling and shed additional light that the defense was the unit that failed us the most last year.
