Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory: The Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings lost in stunning fashion to the Lions in Week 9. The Vikings led by 3 with 23 seconds left in the game, but still came up short.
The Minnesota Vikings lost in stunning fashion to the Lions on Sunday. Following a touchdown run by fullback Rhett Ellison, the Vikings defense allowed the Lions to drive 34 yards down the field and eventually convert a game tying 58 yard field goal by Matt Prater.
In overtime the Lions drove 90 yards, converting three third downs along the way, to deliver the Vikings their third straight loss after Golden Tate’s 28-yard touchdown reception.
Generally I like to give myself at least 24 hours to cool off after a Vikings loss.
Not after this one.
The Vikings loss on Sunday summed up what the franchise has been for about half a century. They give you reasons to be excited, they make you truly believe. Then they snatch it all away and leave you with your jaw dropped and hands on your head asking, “What the hell just happened.”
We were treated with a classic Vikings performance this weekend. From missed field goals to defensive letdowns it was pure Minnesota Vikings football. Let’s take a quick look at some of the mistakes made from each of the four Vikings units.
Offense:
- Fails to score a single point after Chad Greenway Interception.
- Cannot score a touchdown inside the 5-yard line for the fourth time in three games.
- Score three points in the first half…three points.
The offense did get on track at the end of the game, but c’mon. The team has scored 36 points over the last three games. Put in Treadwell, mix up the O-line, give Cordarrelle the ball, I don’t care. There’s got to be a way to find a spark. We will not be in playoff position much longer scoring 12 points per game.
Defense:
- Allows the Lions to go on a 17-play, 84-yard touchdown drive, taking nearly 10 minutes prior to halftime.
- Gives up 34 yards in the 21 second to allow a Matt Prater 58-yard field goal to tie the game at 16.
- In overtime the Lions go on an 11 play, 87 yard game winning drive in 6 minutes and 39 seconds, converting three third downs along the way.
The Vikings defense has looked quite miserable at times over the past two weeks. For a defense that was compared to the 1985 Bears this has been an absolute shock. Earlier in the year the defense was winning us games. It would be nice to get back to that level of play.
Special Teams:
- Blair Walsh misses yet another extra point.
- Walsh’s 46-yard field goal is blocked with a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
I think it’s time to get rid of Blair. I like the guy, I really do, but it’s been too much. After the game Walsh was tired of getting “the same questions”. Well here’s a way to stop those questions Blair: Make your damn kicks. It’s unfortunate to see a nice guy and great kicker fall off a cliff like Blair has. The Seattle game has clearly destroyed him.
Coaching
- We gave Detroit the opportunity to tie the game.
Why are we calling timeout with 27 seconds left in the game? Let the clock run. Make our offense have the final possession. Had we let the clock go down to around 16 seconds then Detroit doesn’t get the shot at the field goal. Grant it, we still should have won the game, but these are the little things that should have been better.
And the sad thing is they still should have won the game. Despite the atrocious mistakes the team was still winning 16-13 with 23 seconds left.
It’s games like this that make you want to stop being a fan. This is almost how I felt after Seattle. When I want to take off my jersey and say, “Enough of this. There are better things for me to do.” Yet I know I will be sitting in my basement Sunday, convinced the team will turn it around in Washington.
In a year where the Cavaliers have won the NBA Finals, and the Cubs have just won the World Series it seems only fitting the Vikings make a Super Bowl run. They’ve suffered more than any sports franchise for the past half-century. It doesn’t matter if the Cubs went 108 years, the Browns haven’t made the playoffs since 2003, or the Bills lost the Super Bowl four straight years. These teams have been horrible. They are very rarely good and never have the unbelievably devastating losses that have become a common occurrence for a particular team in Minnesota.
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Being terrible for twenty years is no fun for any fan, but losing countless games in heartbreaking fashion like the Vikings have is pure torture. Give me a terrible loss for one team and I will give you two for the Vikings. It’s obvious now, the Vikings are the losers of the sports world.
After a game like this it’s hard to stop yourself from punching a wall or throwing a chair. It appears the Vikings faked out the entire league after their 5-0 start. The team that has taken the field the past three weeks has looked nothing like the undefeated group of players who went onto the field thinking they could go up against anyone. There are no more answers. Zimmer tried being angry. He tried the, “We have to get back to work” tactic. What now?
Four weeks ago I got a special feeling inside when Marcus Sherels had his punt return against the Texans. I started to believe, and I think the team did as well. What has happened since then has been nothing short of astonishing. This once promising team, which had hopes of home field throughout the playoffs, now may not even make the playoffs. I’m going to keep my hope up for now, but if this continues what is there to do? Wait for Adrian to get back? Sit down and hope Teddy returns? We don’t even have a first-round pick.
Next: What were the good and bad things in week 9?
If the Vikings don’t turn things around soon we are in for an ugly few months. No playoffs, no draft pick, maybe no Teddy.
This Vikings season almost at the point of becoming an absolute failure. However, if we are able to turns things around and make a deep playoff run, well, that would be wonderful.
It would sure make for a fantastic America’s Game.