Interception Kings

from the NFL's News & Notes:

..."While the Panthers hope to keep the NFL’s No. 2 rushing attack (172.0) on track against Tennessee, Minnesota -- fresh off a Week 6 bye -- will be looking to continue a trend of catching their opponents’ passes.

The Vikings lead the NFL with 13 interceptions, tied with their 1974 team for the most after five games in franchise history. Minnesota is on pace for 41 interceptions, which would shatter the club mark of 36 in 1988 and tie the 1951 New York Giants (41) for third most in NFL history.

The Vikings have been especially productive immediately after intercepting a pass, as their offense has capitalized with a score six times.

“Our football team is playing a hawking-type defense,” says head coach MIKE TICE. “Leading the league in interceptions is a big turnaround from where we were a year ago.”

Minnesota, which had four interceptions at this point in 2002 and posted eight, eight and 16 for the season from 2000-02, has received steady play from its secondary. Safety BRIAN RUSSELL, who has at least one interception in five consecutive games, can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer PAUL KRAUSE’s club record with a pick in his sixth game in a row Sunday. Russell’s five interceptions lead the NFL and are one more than teammate COREY CHAVOUS’ career-high four.

“I think the interceptions have a lot to do with the underneath coverage,” says Russell. “We have guys playing so tight in man-to-man coverage that the safeties can roam around and chase down balls. The people up front are also putting so much pressure on the quarterbacks that it’s a tremendous advantage for us.”

Few players know more about interceptions than Krause, the NFL’s all-time leader with 81. A member of the Vikings from 1968-79, he played in eight Pro Bowls and started in four Super Bowls. Before joining Minnesota, Krause spent 1964-67 with Washington, where he compiled a streak of seven consecutive games with an interception in 1964. That ties for second longest in NFL history behind all-time leader TOM MORROW (eight, Oakland, 1962-63).

Leading the league in interceptions would be a good omen for the Vikings. Since 1990, 15 teams have tied for or led the NFL in interceptions. Twelve of those teams advanced to the playoffs."