Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright (17) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals safety Deone Bucannon (20) in the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Bad
- You can’t turn the ball over. Against a team as good as Arizona, you need to make the most of every opportunity you can. Jarius Wright‘s fumble in the red zone was a killer for the Minnesota Vikings momentum and the drive should have tied or taken the lead,.
- Injuries in the secondary. Minnesota was already without Sendejo, Exum, and Harrison Smith. To make matters worse, the Vikings get Xavier Rhodes all banged up after his hand collides with Anthony Harris‘ helmet. Soon, they’ll be moving linebackers to the secondary to play…
- Clock management before halftime. Taking the play clock all the way down eliminated the chance that Minnesota could run the ball again. That was a big mistake, in my opinion, as it made the offense one-dimensional and easy for the Cardinals to cue in on.
- Seriously, stop with the trick plays. I completely blame Norv Turner for Adrian Peterson’s fumble on the trick reverse. Minnesota’s offense isn’t built to be doing that stuff. Smash it up the gut and take what’s given to you. Trick plays are mistakes waiting to happen and, in my opinion, admitting that the offense can’t get it done.
- Last second offensive line letdown. I’ve been saying it: Brandon Fusco is not a starting quality left guard. Matt Kalil has gotten better this year, but isn’t back to looking great. That drive that could have won or tied the game showed that this team can’t give the quarterback time when it is needed, which is scary for a team that is behind a lot lately.
Next: The Confusing