Editing Episode 617 (section)

== Vikings Defence: Historic Pace ==
 
=== Historical Context ===
The 2026 Vikings defence is on a pace that, if sustained, would rank among the greatest in NFL history. Arif's methodology: taking points allowed per game going back to 1960, computing Z-scores relative to the league average in each season to account for the NFL's scoring environment in each era, and ranking the top defences historically.
 
The top ten (eleven, due to a tie) by that measure are led by the 2006 Baltimore Ravens and 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (both at 2.75 standard deviations from league average), followed by the 1995 Kansas City Chiefs, 1970 Minnesota Vikings, 1994 Cleveland Browns, 1985 and 1986 Chicago Bears, 2022 San Francisco 49ers, 2000 Baltimore Ravens, 1975 Los Angeles Rams, and 1988 Chicago Bears.
 
Through four games, the 2026 Minnesota Vikings are at 2.87 standard deviations from league average — higher than any team in the historical sample. They are, on current pace, the greatest defence in NFL history by this measure.
 
=== Historic Blitz Rate and Pressure Statistics ===
The Vikings' blitz rate varies by data source: 63.8% (Sumer), 67.9% (Next Gen Stats), 77.3% (TFF). Regardless of which figure is correct, all three put the Vikings between 20 and 25 percentage points ahead of the second-most-blitzing team in the league — the Washington Commanders under Dorante Jones, formerly a defensive backs coach for Brian Flores.
 
Arif is in the middle of hand-charting historic high-blitz defences — the Buddy Ryan Eagles, the Rex Ryan Ravens and Jets, the Cowboys Doomsday defence — to compare their blitz rates to the current Vikings' figure and contextualise whether the blitz rate itself is historic.
 
The Vikings also lead the league in pressure rate: 46% (PFF), 48% (Sumer), 46.8% (Next Gen Stats), with all three companies ranking them first. They lead the league in sacks at a 10.3% sack rate. The standard schematic design, per analyst Derek Klossen writing for the Athletic, is a five-man rush as the base with the four-man rush as the changeup — the inverse of conventional defensive philosophy. Blitzes are designed with run-containment principles built in, particularly on first down, to preserve the right to use more aggressive packages on third and long.
 
The run defence is adequate: the Dolphins' Ollie Gordon ran for 110 yards on nine carries including a 53-yard run, with a 44% success rate; the Vikings rank fifth in EPA allowed per rush, meaning the long run distorts the box score more than the underlying performance.
 
=== 2016 Comparisons ===
Both hosts noted parallels to the 2016 Vikings — another 4–0 team with an elite defence and a historically inept offence that did not make the playoffs. The 2016 season was also the Norv Turner resignation year, the alleged Turner–Mike Zimmer altercation, and the Bradford-as-viable-quarterback-question-mark season. Among the last 25 teams to start 4–0, the 2016 Vikings are the only prior team sharing the current Vikings' statistical profile on touchdown rate per drive, drive-ending-in-kick rate, and turnover rate.
 
=== Individual Defensive Performances ===
Jalen Redmond had a strong game, chasing down an outside run 11 yards downfield to prevent a touchdown — not a play a defensive tackle is expected to make. Dallas Turner received four pressures from all three charting companies, ranks first or second across the league in pressure totals, and posted a 33% one-on-one pass rush win rate against starting offensive tackles in non-play-action, non-screen dropbacks — an 88th-percentile outcome. Arif characterised his overall performance level as Pro Bowl-calibre.
 
Andrew Van Ginkel had a very good game. Kyle Van Noy was solid and got a sack. Eric Wilson had an outstanding game and, in an aside both hosts found extremely funny, got a referee suspended. Harrison Smith and Isaiah Rogers each contributed pass deflections. James Peer took five snaps and allowed no targets. Theo Jackson was noted for needing sharper tackling angles. Blake Cashman was fine. Joshua Tellis performed better than expected. Jake Golda took approximately five snaps.