EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Playoff season has arrived.
Although the Vikings earned a first-round bye with the No. 2 seed in the NFC, there is certainly a postseason feel around Winter Park.
Minnesota went 13-3 this season, posting the second-best record in franchise history. And there were plenty of stars along the way, as the Vikings produced several notable performances on offense, defense and special teams.
Here’s a look at a Vikings regular-season recap:
Passing:
Keenum also posted a quarterback rating of 98.3, which was the seventh-best in the NFL. He had eight games in which he had a rating of 100 or better.
Rushing: A season after eclipsing 100-plus rushing yards just twice, the Vikings ground game did so 13 times in behind a triple-headed attack.
Minnesota finished the 2017 season ranked seventh with 122.3 yards per game.
Rookie running back
Murray led the way with 847 yards and a team-high eight rushing touchdowns, as he overcame a slow start to produce a pair of 100-yard games and consistent attack down the stretch. McKinnon scored a career-high three times on the ground and added 570 rushing yards.
Cook finished the season with 354 rushing yards and two scores on 74 attempts, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Keenum and fullback
Receiving:
The first-time Pro Bowler hauled in 91 catches (seventh-most in team history) for 1,276 yards, a mark that ranks as the ninth-best for a single season by a Vikings wide receiver. The Minnesota native also had four touchdowns.
Diggs had eight touchdown catches, which was tied for the team lead with
McKinnon was a threat out of the backfield with 421 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while
Tight end
Defense: The Vikings produced the best defense in the league — and one of the best in franchise history.
Minnesota ranked first in points allowed (15.8), the first time it had done so since 1970. The Vikings also allowed the fewest yards per game (275.9), the team’s best mark since 1993.
If that wasn’t enough, Minnesota also had the best third-down defense in NFL history (the stat started being tracked in 1991). The Vikings allowed just 51 conversions on 202 attempts (25.2 percent).
Barr, a Pro Bowl selection had 98 total tackles (according to coaches’ tally) with a sack and nine tackles for loss. Kendricks had 136 total tackles (according to coaches’ tally) with 10 tackles for loss and a 31-yard interception return for a score against Cincinnati. It was the third time in as many seasons for Kendricks to lead the Vikings in tackles.
Special Teams: Vikings kicker
Punter
Looking Ahead
Minnesota earned a first-round bye by snagging the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record and also captured its second NFC North title in three seasons.
The Vikings will play either the Rams, Saints or Panthers in the Divisional round at 3:40 p.m. on Jan. 14 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota defeated New Orleans and Los Angeles at home in 2017 and lost to Carolina on the road.