Nov 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) drops a pass in the end zone against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Bad
- Dropped touchdown pass by Kyle Rudolph. You can’t get much more wide open in the NFL than Rudolph was on the Vikings second drive of the game. With how much Minnesota struggles to convert in the red zone, the team can’t leave opportunities like that on the field.
- Hesitation in the secondary. On the two drives in the first half by Oakland, they both had something in common. The players in the deep secondary hesitated to cover a pass catcher. Both times, it resulted in huge yardage through the air for the Raiders.
- Andrew Sendejo‘s struggles at safety. I love defending Sendejo. He’s an excellent special teams player. He’s a good backup player. But even I have to admit that he’s giving up too many big plays in pass coverage. Since there isn’t likely a better option on the roster this season, he’ll have to have some better games in the future.
- Teddy Bridgewater needs to pull the trigger. Watching the game, it’s hard to see rookie offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings trying to contain some of the best pass rushers in the NFL during his rookie year. Even with help, Bridgewater got pressured quickly and often, forcing him to roll out to buy time.
Next: The Confusing