5 most clutch Minnesota Vikings players on the 2020 roster

Dan Bailey – K

Yes, a kicker.

If this is stunning, it should be. But this can be construed as a testament to the player himself rather than the Vikings team as a whole throughout the years.

In the last five years, kicker Dan Bailey has been asked to kick field goals 27 times in the fourth quarter when the game is within a three-point score margin.

He’s been perfect.

Out of the 27 field goal attempts, he has drilled all 27 field goals. He is the only player in the NFL to be called upon more than 25 times in such scenarios and be perfect. If it matters, he has not missed any extra points in these clutch situations either.

In the five seasons prior to Bailey’s arrival, Minnesota missed five field goals in the fourth quarter of games when the score margin was within three points. That probably does not sound like a lot, but in the heat of the moment, such misses can be catastrophic.

All five misses were perpetrated by Blair Walsh. Daniel Carlson’s infamous misses in 2018 came in overtime and when the lead was six points.

And, in fairness, former Vikings kicker Kai Forbath never missed in these situations either as he was 12 for 12.