5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals – Week 8
By Chris Schad
Greg Joseph will attempt a game-winning field goal
You might have just gasped reading the title of this slide, but it’s important to revisit history. The Vikings had the Cardinals beat last season before Greg Joseph’s 37-yard field goal attempt went wide right. Even the Vikings’ radio call thought the Vikings had one the game, only to realize they were heading back to Minnesota with a loss.
Joseph went on to have a solid season by converting 33-of-38 field goals (86.8 percent) last season, but fans are still fixated on that one kick in the desert. If his performance this year has anything to do with it, maybe they should be.
Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels predicted that Joseph would have the best year of his career during training camp, but he’s made just 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) field goal attempts this season. Even worse? He’s made just 3-of-7 (42 percent) of his attempts – including five straight misses – at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Nobody wants to see this game come down to another last-second field goal, but the Vikings have proven almost incapable of winning a game comfortably. That will put Joseph on the spot and give him an opportunity to get back on track.