Turnovers continue to be a huge issue for the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings will need to clean up their tendencies to turn the ball over if they hope to get some big wins in the final four games of the season.

After going 13-3 last season and making it to the NFC Championship Game, things have certainly not gone as well this season for the Minnesota Vikings.

There are many reasons for that. Tougher schedule, offensive line struggling more, missed kicks, questionable play calling, etc.

Another issue has been turnovers. They have been a real issue this year.

They have 18 turnovers this season after 12 games (tied for ninth worst in the league) and are plus-one (tied for 16th best) in the turnover battle.

Last season they had 14 turnovers overall (third fewest in the league) and had a plus-five (tied for 12th best) in the turnover battle.

Here are how many they had in each game that was not a win:

Week 2: at Green Bay Packers (one)

The main story of this game was the three missed kicks (two in overtime) by Daniel Carlson. There was also an interception though thrown by Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter. The pass went right through the hands of Laquon Treadwell.

Week 3: vs Buffalo Bills (three)

This game got ugly right away.

After giving up a touchdown on the opening drive, Cousins fumbled twice deep in Vikings territory and the Bills took an eventual 17-0 lead. It was 27-0 at halftime.

Cousins then threw an interception in the third quarter. The game was already out of reach.

Week 4 at Los Angeles Rams (one)

With a chance to tie the score late in the game with a touchdown, Cousins fumbled.

The Vikings defense struggled all game, but the offense kept them in the game.

Week 8 vs. New Orleans Saints (two)

The Vikings were leading 13-10 and in the red zone late in the first half. Adam Thielen then fumbled and the Saints returned it deep into Vikings territory. They scored a touchdown to take a 17-13 lead right before halftime.

Early in the third quarter, the Vikings went for it on 4th and one from their own 45-yard line and failed. Later in the quarter, Cousins threw a pick-six, which sealed the game for the Saints.

Week 11 at Chicago Bears (three)

The Bears were ahead 3-0 and the Vikings were driving down the field on their second possession. They had the ball 1st and 10 from the 14-yard line, but Dalvin Cook fumbled. They eventually trailed 14-0 at halftime.

Cousins threw an interception late in the first half and a pick-six in the fourth quarter. That gave the Bears a 22-6 lead and was enough to give them the win.

Week 13 at New England Patriots (two)

Down 24-10 with 4:41 left in the game, the Vikings had the ball at the Patriots 42-yard line. Cousins was then picked off while throwing deep to Aldrick Robinson in the end zone. The ball bounced off Robinson’s hands and went into the hands of Patriots safety Duron Harmon.

Cousins threw another interception in the closing seconds, but by then it did not matter.

More about Minnesota Vikings miscues

Again, many reasons why the Vikings have not been as good as last year, but to win in this league, you have to take care of the ball. That is one of the keys to winning.

Gary Anderson gets plenty of blame for missing a 38-yard field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship Game. It was a kick he should have made. He was perfect all year and it was not a very long kick. Had he made it, the Vikings would have been up 10 with just over two minutes to go, which more than likely would have been the game-winner.

There were other reasons for the loss too though. The Vikings were ahead 20-7 late in the second quarter, but Randall Cunningham then got sacked and fumbled deep in their own territory. Falcons recovered the fumble and later scored a touchdown. The Vikings had plenty of momentum before that fumble and the game really changed after that.

In the 2009 NFC Championship Game, the Vikings had five turnovers (the Saints had one) and still nearly won. There was bad officiating too, but take away even one of the turnovers and the Vikings very well could have won (unless Ryan Longwell missed a kick too).

Cousins on the season has 13 of the team’s 18 turnovers (nine interceptions and four lost fumbles). He does deserve blame for those turnovers, but the offensive line has not helped him much this year either. Three of his lost fumbles were on a strip sack that came from the blindside. Could he have shown better pocket awareness? Yes, but getting sacked from the blindside makes things much more difficult.

Two of his interceptions were off the receiver’s hands and on the pick-six against the Saints, Stefon Diggs stopped running his route.

Cousins though still has played well overall and although the Minnesota Vikings should have a minimum of two more wins as a team, he also has played a huge role in them not losing an extra two or three games.