Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
That return by Thomas set up the whole overtime for the Saints. Pretty clutch play for a guy who was more or less back there because the other guy Roby had been injured earlier.
Anytime you have a team win a game where the other team had more yards on offence like what happened in the NFC Championship game, if you go back and add in return yardage from kickoffs, punts, interceptions, and fumble returns chances are the yardage total will swing to the team who won. In a year where a lot of veteran kickers botched makeable kicks at key times, Hartley hit that one right on the money.
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Exactly. I'm sick and really have nothing to do, including sleeping which won't be happening, may as well crunch some numbers..
(actually I was working on it and discovered someone on wdz.com had already done the heavy lifting)
Total yardage #'s with all the extras included:
Minnesota- 523, New Orleans- 474(difference of 49 yards)
This is how it breaks down:
Minnesota
Passing: 310
Rushing: 165
KO Returns: 33
Punt Returns: 15
INT Returns: 0
Fumble Returns: 0
New Orleans
Passing: 189 (this includes -8 yard for the 1 fumble/sack)
Rushing: 68
KO Returns: 183
Punt Returns: 0
INT Returns: 29
Fumble Returns: 5
Also, average yards per punt: Saints-51, Vikings-39.
--So over-all, the Vikes still won the yardage battle, but by 49 yards, as opposed to the over 200 when you just compare offences.