7 takeaways from the Vikings Week 3 win over the Raiders

Zimmer is still in Carlson’s head

Almost a year to the day that he was cut by the Vikings, kicker Daniel Carlson returned to face Minnesota on Sunday as a member of the Raiders.

Heading into this week’s matchup, Carlson had made 17-straight field goal attempts since he was signed by Oakland midway through last season. He was definitely making Minnesota look like they made the wrong decision to let him go after just two games in 2018.

Then came his return trip to the Twin Cities on Sunday. The Vikings shut down the Raiders for most of the afternoon, so Carlson didn’t really get many chances to kick.

But he did get the opportunity to attempt a 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. With Mike Zimmer’s scowl from last year still embedded in his brain, Carlson launched the kick in the air and it ended up being no good after connecting with the goal post.

Instead of the miss costing Minnesota points though, this time his failed kick just made Oakland’s loss look even worse.

Carlson will probably be fine and return to making his kicks for the Raiders this season. It was just a nice coincidence that his first miss in 17 attempts came with his previous employer watching on.

Or maybe it wasn’t a coincidence?