Vikings defense stacks up shockingly well with 2 legendary Super Bowl defenses
Through four games, Minnesota's defense compares favorably to the legendary 2000 Ravens and 2002 Buccaneers in several key categories.
The 2026 Minnesota Vikings defense is putting up numbers this season that are surprising even when compared to two of the most legendary defenses in NFL history – the 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Through four games, the Vikings are holding their rivals to 12.8 points per game, 12.8 points per game, and 10 forced turnovers, matching the points allowed by the 2002 Bucs (11.7) and 2000 Ravens (13.7).
The Vikings' quarterback passers have combined for a 67-of-131 completion rate (51.1%), 881 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a season-high 16 sacks, mirroring the performances of the 2002 Bucs (82-of-158, 51.9%, 819 yards, 2 TD, 7 INT, 13 sacks) and the 2000 Ravens (71-of-129, 55.0%, 850 yards, 4 TD, 5 INT, 10 sacks).
Facing players like Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, and Baker Mayfield, the Vikings have been able to shut down opposing running games, allowing only 4.15 yards per carry, which is better than both historic defenses. While the 2026 Vikings' defense still has a ways to go to reach the historic status of the 2000 Ravens or the suffocating play of the 2002 Buccaneers, their early season performance suggests they could be a force to reckon with in the league.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
