Minnesota Vikings ‘uncharacteristic’ in loss to Green Bay Packers
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but many players say that the game was ‘uncharacteristic’ of how the team actually plays.
The Minnesota Vikings entered Sunday’s game with the least penalties per game in the league and not allowing an opponent to score more than 23 points against them. However, if you were watching the game against the Green Bay Packers, you wouldn’t know that.
Sloppy play resulted in the team getting a lot of penalty flags in the game, having 8 penalties accepted against them for 110 yards. The Packers used those yards to put themselves in position to score, tallying two touchdowns and five field goals to put 30 points up against the usually stout Minnesota Vikings defense.
In the roundup of post game quotes on the Vikings.com website, the players and coaches all had a similar tone:
Nov 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers(12) and Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater(5) talk following the game at TCF Bank Stadium. The Packers defeated the Vikings 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Teddy Bridgewater: “That wasn’t like us, uncharacteristic of us with all of those penalties.”
Whether it is mistakes or poor execution, the Minnesota Vikings never seem to do well on a large stage. Big games seem to get away from them, such as high-profile games in prime time and contests against tough opponents with good records. Things won’t get much easier for Minnesota, as their next three opponents are the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) on the road, Seattle Seahawks (5-5), and Cardinals (8-2) in Arizona on Thursday Night Football.
There is little doubt that Mike Zimmer will be working hard to prepare his team for these contests, but it will be interesting to see how this Minnesota Vikings team responds to this loss. We’ll find out that answer on Sunday, when the Vikings take on the Falcons from Atlanta.