A Self-Inflicted Loss
In their first loss of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Vikings continually limited their chances to win by getting flagged for crucial penalties, making questionable coaching decisions, and failing to execute.
Against the Lions, the Vikings were close to penalty free, committing only two for 10 yards. But questionable coaching decisions and poor execution reared their ugly heads again.
Let’s start with the coaching. On the Vikings’ first drive of the second quarter, the coaching staff continued their strange play calling habits. Two weeks after an atrocious decision to call a fake punt in their own half, Minnesota unleashed the Wildcat.
Predictably, it didn’t go well, as McKinnon fumbled the ball at the mesh point to Cook, setting up the Lions for an easy field goal. I’m all for innovation but what was the need to call the Wildcat in that situation?
Last season it was understandable as the Vikings struggled to muster yards on the ground, but against the Lions, Cook was averaging five yards per carry. Innovation is often inspired by having no other option, let’s hope the coaches learn their lesson and leave desperate measures for desperate times.
Minnesota Vikings
With the Vikings defense on form, one turnover probably could have been overcome, but an overall lack of ball security doomed Minnesota. Cook can be considered blameless for letting go of the ball while getting tackled mid-ACL tear. But Thielen’s fumble as the Vikings attempted a game tying drive was inexcusable.
In such a close game, the Viking’s could have used a turnover of their own but Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes all dropped catchable interceptions. The Vikings lack of execution was summed up when Kai Forbath missed his first field goal for the franchise from only 39 yards.
If not for the Vikings’ defensive performance, the turnovers could have caused the score to snowball quickly as the Houston Texans showed against the Tennessee Titans.
On one hand, it is refreshing that the Vikings can attribute their losses to self inflicted wounds as opposed to being inferior to their opposition. On the other, if the Vikings don’t curb their self-destructive ways, their chances of returning to the playoffs will be severely restricted.
As Jeff Fisher would say, “that’s some 7-9 bulls***t!”