Minnesota Vikings Ups and Downs: Week 12 vs Green Bay Packers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers and Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings greet each other after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers and Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings greet each other after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Dan Bailey #5 of the Minnesota Vikings sits on the field after missing a field goal at the end of the second quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 25: Dan Bailey #5 of the Minnesota Vikings sits on the field after missing a field goal at the end of the second quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The bad things from Week 12

  1. A brutal beginning. If you like three-and-outs, you probably loved the start of this game. Minnesota got the ball first and couldn’t get a first down. After punting the Green Bay, the Packers did the same. Then, the Vikings got another try…and it went backward. Ugly start.
  2. Bad memories. Last time the Vikings played the Packers, fans had to endure a horrific field goal kicking performance from Daniel Carlson that cost the team a win. This week, Dan Bailey missed his first and second attempts. To be fair, both were approximately 50-yarders, but those misses are haunting for fans.
  3. Not taking the points. By passing up on a field goal in the fourth quarter, Minnesota left the door open for a FG/TD combo to tie the game. While the logic of pinning them back and holding the lead makes sense, passing up on points and an opportunity to make possessions harder for the Packers.
  4. Another blocked pass. This season, Kirk Cousins has found a habit in having his passes swatted down at the line of scrimmage and it happened again this week. I wouldn’t be surprised if some Vikings fans have turned this into a drinking game of some sort.
  5. Allowing big gains on the ground. The Packers running backs carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards during the game, averaging approximately 4.3 yards per carry. Thankfully, Green Bay abandoned the run at times and passed the ball 28 times during the game and played away from one of their biggest strengths that was putting them in a good position on early downs.