4 most disappointing Vikings in the win over the Bears in Week 5

Ryan Wright – P

Ryan Wright only had one punt on the day, but it was bad enough that it got him on the disappointing list for Week 5.

Wright has been money so far this season for the Vikings. He’s averaging 45.6 yards per punt and he has kicked Minnesota out of some very bad field position. Heck, he’s been one of the Vikings’ best rookies and one of the more consistent and steady players.

That’s enough of the positive talk though because what Wright did this past Sunday against the Bears was very wrong.

Minnesota was humming in this game, and toward the end of the first half, they had a drive that stalled. Instead of being aggressive and going for it on fourth down, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell elected to punt.

This call made sense, as Chicago’s offense was struggling all game and they surely wouldn’t have been able to move the ball the length of the field to put up points before halftime.

But instead of delivering a punt that pinned the Bears inside their own 10-yard line, or even an average punt that would have put them around their own 25-yard line, Wright shanked it. It traveled about 15 yards in the air as it wobbled out of bounds.

On top of the horrible punt, Minnesota was flagged for a penalty and Chicago got the ball pretty much at the spot that Wright punted from.

Wright has been great all season and he will likely continue to be just fine. But the fact of the matter is that his shank of a punt turned the tide of this game, and it was the opportunity the Bears needed to get themselves back in the matchup and nearly win it.