5 absolute best Minnesota Vikings defenses of all-time
By Dustin Baker
2. 1970 Minnesota Vikings
Notable Key Players:
Bobby Bryant, Carl Eller, Karl Kassulke, Paul Krause, Gary Larsen, Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Ed Sharockman, Charlie West, Roy Winston
Team Record: 12-2
The 1970 Vikings allowed 10.2 points per game. This ranked No. 1 in the NFL and it was so by a comparative mile. Ranking second was the Detroit Lions at 14.4 points per game. This troupe of Minnesota defenders also finished tops in the league in yards per game allowed at 200.
In forced turnovers, the 1970 Vikings team was equally as fearsome. Minnesota registered 44 takeaways in the midst of this campaign and that was–you guessed it–best in the NFL. The pass rush sprinkled in 49 sacks which good enough for third in the league behind the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos.
Led by quarterback Gary Cuozzo, the Vikings offense finished third overall with 24 points per game scored.
The season ended in the divisional round of the playoffs, when the Bud Grant-led Vikings lost a frigid battle at Metropolitan Stadium to quarterback John Brodie and the 49ers, 17-14.