7 things the Vikings do better than anyone else in the NFL
By Dustin Baker
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.
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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.