Vikings Players Frustrated With Defense
By Adam Carlson
Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers running back James Starks (44) rushes for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings were once again embarrassed on national television on Sunday night by their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Although the Vikings managed to score 31 points (most of them during garbage time), the game was only close until around halftime. The only reason that was close is because of a Cordarrelle Patterson kickoff return touchdown that tied an NFL record for longest play in history (109 yards).
The Vikings players had some things to say about their performance following the Sunday night beatdown:
Here is Vikings cornerback Chris Cook:
"Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook (20) warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports“It’s just demoralizing when you can’t stop somebody on third down,” Cook said. “They were basically doing whatever they wanted to do today on third down. And for them to come out, when they were in field-goal range, and to go for it on fourth down was kind of really a slap in the face to us. I think they converted it too, so we just got to have a sense of pride and we just got to stand up and play football.”"
And Minnesota’s defensive end Jared Allen:
"Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) prior to a play during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers defeated the Vikings 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports“”You got to be kidding me to say that we can’t stop teams,” Allen said. “We score 31 points and don’t win the game; you got to be kidding me. We get blown out three weeks in a row, you got to be kidding me. We got to play better. We talk about pass rush all day, but you’ve got to earn the right to rush the passer and we’re not doing that. I think they had 200 yards rushing today. It’s ridiculous. The Green Bay Packers? Hats off to them, I mean they obviously have a much improved run game, but when the heck is the last time the Green Bay Packers rushed for 200 yards on somebody? It don’t happen. If that’s not a punch in the gut and a wake-up to people, something needs to be.”"
Even head coach Leslie Frazier had something to say:
"Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier looks on during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers defeated the Vikings 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports“There’s not much we can do personnel-wise,” coach Leslie Frazier said. “These are the guys we have. So we got to figure out schematically what can we do with the guys that we have to be better. It’s hard to play good defense if you’re not doing better on third down that what we are right now.”"
The Vikings defense gave the Packers little resistance. Green Bay ended the game 13 for 18 on 3rd downs and 2 for 2 on 4th down. This is a game where the Packers didn’t have to punt at all and every drive ended in points for the visiting team.
The disappointment never seems to end for this Vikings team or their fans. Folks in the stands at the game were seen wearing brown paper bags over their heads in shame at the display that the team was putting on. And sadly, there’s no sign of this team getting any better any time soon.