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Before joining our Access Vikings team, Dan Wiederer covered Atlantic Coast Conference basketball for the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer and was named North Carolina's top sports columnist in 2010. His previous reporting experience includes covering the Chicago Bears. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.


Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.


Vikings improve in red-zone efficiency

Posted by: Chip Scoggins under Vikings, NFC, Brad Childress, Vikings defense, Vikings offense, Vikings players, Brad Childress, Brett Favre Updated: November 23, 2009 - 4:28 PM

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Brett Favre’s impact on the Vikings is apparent in many areas, and their improvement in the red zone is certainly one of them.

The Vikings had one of the NFL’s worst red-zone offenses statistically through 10 games last season. They are one of the most efficient red-zone offenses this season.

The Vikings had three touchdowns in three trips inside the red zone Sunday against Seattle.
 
“You achieve what you emphasize,” coach Brad Childress said. “A couple of years ago we weren’t very good and pulled it all back apart and said, ‘What do we have to do to be better in the red zone to get [touchdowns] instead of [field goals].’ I think everybody has a little hand in that.”
 
Favre obviously deserves a lot of credit. His decision-making and ability to read coverages and then find the open receiver have allowed the Vikings to reach the end zone more often and not have to settle for field goals.
 
The improvement from last season is significant:
 
The Vikings are ranked No. 7 in the NFL in red-zone efficiency with 25 touchdowns in 42 possessions (59.5 percent). They have been held to field goals nine times.
 
They ranked 14th in the NFC at this point last season with only 10 touchdowns in 25 trips (40 percent). They had 11 field goals.
 
In all, the Vikings have scored 202 points inside the red zone this season (second most in the NFL) compared to 103 points after 10 games in 2008.
 
The Vikings defense also is one of the league’s best inside the red zone. They rank No. 2 in the NFL with only 10 touchdowns allowed in 26 possessions (38.5 percent).
 
They were eighth in the NFC at this point last season with 15 touchdowns allowed in 30 possessions (50 percent).

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