Here's an excerpt from Craig's story:
Years ago, one of my then-grade-school daughters looked at the Vikings schedule, saw 16 games and asked, "Dad, if the Vikings only play 16 games, what do you do the rest of the year?"
Um, ah … good question.
We media folks tell stories, hopefully interesting ones. We also spend an awful lot of time analyzing, discussing, over-analyzing and blathering on about what we think could, should and will happen in the upcoming game.
Then the opening kickoff comes …
We watch as the bouncing ball oftentimes literally determines the outcome of the game — not all the things we discussed, analyzed, over-analyzed and blathered on about for six days prior.
Furthermore, the numbers don't tell the complete story. Expanding on Craig's point for a moment – forcing a turnover, aka creating a takeaway, can pull momentum out of thin air. Usually, getting the defense off the field saves players' legs, and supplies offensive teammates with a confidence surge.
Minnesota knows this well. It's why Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores and Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels often discuss takeaway techniques with the media and drill takeaway circuits in practices.
Of course, creating a takeaway – and multiple for that matter – is a goal easier set than achieved.
A year ago, the Vikings didn't lose the turnover battle until Week 9. They have seven takeaways so far this season, granted five occurred in Week 3. Craig thinks increasing that figure would distract from the slew of injuries and penalties that has put Minnesota in adverse situations through its first four games.
Read his full analysis on the topic here.