The Vikings entered the final day of the regular season on Sunday ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing defense. While that was still very good, it looked as if the team's three-year run as the league's top run defense would come to an end. The streak was the longest since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger

And then the Vikings held the Giants to only 35 yards on 12 carries in a 44-7 victory over New York on Sunday at the Metrodome. That actually moved the Vikings past Pittsburgh and Cincinnati but they still finished second in the NFL to Green Bay.

The Packers gave up only 48 yards on the ground in their 33-7 victory at Arizona and finished by allowing only 83.3 yards per game this season. The Vikings surrendered 87.1 yards per game on the ground.

By comparison, the Vikings gave up an average of 76.9 rushing yards per game in 2008, 74.1 yards per game in 2007 and 61.6 yards per game in 2006.