Team Aggregate Opponents PPG Opponent PPG Std Dev 1969 Vikings 19.3 9.5 -3.3 2013 Seahawks 22.1 14.4 -2.5

Up to this point, we have been comparing the two defenses performance against league averages. But neither the Seahawks nor the Vikings played every opposing offense in the league. We need to get specific about which offenses they played, and how they did relative to the averages of those offenses.

The Vikings 14 regular season opponents scored an average of 19.3 points per game, below the league average (21.0 w/AFL). Seattle faced opponents who averaged slightly below the league average (23.4). The Vikings were so dominant that they, alone, likely account for why the teams they played were below the league scoring average in aggregate. Even with a lower average score, they still were more dominant against their competition than the Seahawks.

Let’s step away from the regular season for a moment though and just see how both teams did against the best offenses in the league that year. The best versus the best.

Team GMs VS TOP 10 OFF (incl playoffs) +/- Opp Avg 1969 Vikings 8 -10.8 2013 Seahawks 3 -19.9



This is a little bit misleading in that there were only 16 teams in the NFL, and I counted the Super Bowl against Kansas City in the AFL. Still, the Vikings faced their share of strong offenses and held their own in those games. Only three teams scored more than 14 points against them all season. This is a little bit misleading in that there were only 16 teams in the NFL, and I counted the Super Bowl against Kansas City in the AFL. Still, the Vikings faced their share of strong offenses and held their own in those games. Only three teams scored more than 14 points against them all season. Minnesota had a powerhouse team, that seemed destined for a Super Bowl title, but five turnovers in the championship game led to their undoing. The defense could not make up for miscues, falling behind 16-0, and eventually losing 23-7 to Len Dawson, Hank Stram, and the Chiefs. This is a pretty big dent in the armor of the Vikings case for best defense of all-time. Yes, their offense failed them in the big game. Yes, it was just one game. But the defense had made up for offensive failures in other games, and not stepping up on the biggest stage has to affect their standing among the greats. Seattle beat three great opponents and quarterbacks in the playoffs, and an all-time offense in the Super Bowl. That earns them a win in this round.

Round 4: Takeaways

Team League Avg Takeaways/Game Takeaways/Game Std Dev League Rank 1969 Vikings 2.4 / 2.5 3.0 1.2 / .99 2 2013 Seahawks 1.6 2.4 2.29 1



Seattle finished the season ranked #1 in points allowed, yards allowed and takeaways, the first team to do that since the 1985 Bears. The Vikings finished second in takeaways, and were less of a standout relative to the year they played. Seattle gets a clear victory here.