Several of you noted that I left out an important fact in discussing the Minnesota Vikings' historically poor pass defense Tuesday. Not only do they rank last among NFL teams with six interceptions, but they've gone eight consecutive games without one.
Research from Jeremy Mills of ESPN Stats & Information reveals the Vikings could set a new NFL record for interception futility unless they can pick off New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in Sunday's matchup between the teams at the Metrodome. As the chart shows, no team has gone more than eight consecutive games without an interception since the 1970 merger.
(That news should be of particular interest to a KFAN-1130 radio talk show host who has started a "Sick for a Pick" campaign this week to rouse the Vikings defense.)
Of the Vikings' six interceptions, three came in Week 5 against Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks Kevin Kolb and Rich Bartel. By my count, they've had 229 passes thrown against them without an interception since safety Jamarca Sanford intercepted Bartel on the final pass of that Oct. 9 game.