What were the good, bad, and interesting things from the Minnesota Vikings week 15 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, December 18, 2016?
Prior to week 15 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, the Minnesota Vikings were on the outside of the playoff picture and trailing in the divisional race to the Detroit Lions with the surging Packers hot on their heels.
This game was essential for the Vikings to stay alive in the NFC North race and stay relevant in the playoff hunt, but it also was another measuring stick for the Vikings, as the Colts are a dangerous team in a similar situation.
Sadly, Minnesota was unable to come away with a win in week 15. The disappointing 6-34 loss makes the playoff hopes even more remote and likely pushes them right out of the NFC North title picture.
Still, there were a lot of things to discuss about this game. So, as always, let’s jump into the review of the week 15 game between the Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts. Here are the good, bad, and interesting things that happened in the contest, starting with the positives.
The Good Stuff
- Jeff Locke had a solid day punting. It’s not a good thing when the punting is highlight of a game. However, Locke is having a career year booting the football (aside from a tough performance against the Cowboys) and looks to be a LOCKE for a contract extension.
- Kai Forbath is looking good. He made both attempts this game, including a 51 yard boot. Kicks those long are always a gamble, but so far Forbath has been perfect on field goals since joining the Vikings. An excellent pickup from the Vikings front office.
- I played Frank Gore in fantasy. Yep, you don’t care about this one bit, but it’s my fantasy football playoffs and I need points. Even though he didn’t find the end zone, Gore got me a solid number of points for yardage. So, at least for me, that was a positive.
- Stefon Diggs continues to fight. He absorbed some big hits and broke tackles to gain yardage even when the lead seemed insurmountable. He’s a guy the Vikings can continue to build around that will likely be in Minnesota for many, many more years.
- That’s all I’ve got. Not a lot else to be happy about during this game. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised I could come up with four!
The Bad Things
- Linval Joseph’s penalty. I understand that Joseph wanted to block a field goal, but planning on a 323 pound man to leap over the center without touching him is downright silly. This was a foolish penalty that was a 4 point swing. Not worth the risk at all.
- No push on offense. Even the return of Adrian Peterson couldn’t spark the Vikings run offense. Minnesota continues to be the worst team in the NFL at running the ball and their issues are much deeper than just the individual with the football in the hands.
- One first down in the first half. ONE. The Colts dominated the time of possession as well, making this game feel out of reach very early on. No fire. No efficiency. And no sense of desperation to make the playoffs or stay in the division race. Very disappointing.
- The defense couldn’t stop a cold. Very little pressure on Luck, lapses in coverage in the secondary, and holes in the run game made the Colts look like an unbeatable powerhouse despite injuries to their offensive line and pass catchers. Vikings defensive line should have eaten this team alive.
- Holding on to the football. Both Adrian Peterson and Sam Bradford lost fumbles in this game. The protection of T.J. Clemmings left a lot to be desired and the Colts were persistent at ripping at the arms of the ball carriers. Sprinkle in the Bradford interception, and turnovers were a killer.
The Interesting Occurrences
- Brian Robison’s 100th career start. This is quite a feat in today’s NFL. Robison has proven to be a reliable defensive end for the Vikings, reaching 155 total games played as well, passing Chris Doleman in that regard. Next goal, reaching double-digit sacks during the 2016 season.
- Gore’s legacy continues to build. Frank Gore passed Tony Dorsett for 10th on the list of most scrimmage yards in NFL history according to ESPN Stats and Info. He really is a workhorse who should one day be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Enunciation matters. When an announcer said “d-back Marcus Sherels”, I honestly thought he said “d-bag Marcus Sherels”. I mean, I don’t know if he’s a nice guy or not (never met him), but I’m sure d-bag might be going a bit far there!
- Carl Lee sounded the Gjallarhorn. Lee was a member of the Vikings for 11 seasons, where he intercepted 29 passes and was selected for three straight Pro Bowls. He was a great selection to sound the horn and show his Vikings love.
- A true test. I’ve got over 4 years of sobriety in, but these are the Minnesota Vikings games that make me want to go down to the store and buy the biggest, cheapest bottle of whiskey they have to drown my sorrows in. I’ll win this fight, but this has been a rough day. Hopefully WWE Roadblock: End Of The Line is better tonight.
Overall Impression
This was one of the most frustrating games ever. As a Minnesota Vikings fan, it’s hard to watch a game like this where Minnesota needed a big win at home to see a loss of this kind of magnitude to a team they should have been competitive against.
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Minnesota’s run game continued to be awful, despite the return of Adrian Peterson. The offensive line gave up far too many sacks and couldn’t get a push, making things even more difficult for a unit that has already been struggling.
Surprisingly, the defense was the biggest disappointment. Even though they didn’t have Harrison Smith and Trae Waynes available, there are still many talented players on this team that should have done a much better job containing the Colts offense.
The worst part of the game is that the Vikings should have been dominating a patchwork Colts offensive line. Instead, Andrew Luck wasn’t sacked once and had time to let plays develop, go through reads, and make some big throws.
The 6-34 loss was a heart breaker, and might be the nail in the coffin for the season’s playoff hopes and division aspirations.
Next: Exclusive interview with Vikings WR Stefon Diggs
The Minnesota Vikings will travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers in week 16. At this point, the importance of that game is unknown, but it should still be a game the team takes very seriously, since it is a division rival.