Minnesota is the best team when leading at the end of the third quarter
The Vikings have 45-0 record in regular-season games when taking a lead into the fourth quarter during the last five seasons.
They are the only undefeated team in this regard. The Patriots are second at 57-2 (.966) when entering the fourth quarter ahead on the scoreboard.
Mike Zimmer’s style is a frequent focal point of criticism when Minnesota gets out to a lead. The Vikings tend to play conservatively on offense, minimize turnovers, and Zimmer allows his beloved defense to seal the deal.
It drives fans bonkers as many prefer a “step on their throat” approach. Other NFL teams opt for the throat-stomp method and they sometimes lose games because of it.
Nobody protects a fourth-quarter lead better than Zimmer and the Vikings. The only time, at all, Minnesota has blown a lead heading into the fourth quarter of a game during the last five seasons was during the 2015 playoffs when former Vikings kicker Blair Walsh notoriously shanked a game-winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks.