4 silver linings from the Vikings horrible loss to the Cowboys

The loss happened in the middle season

If the Vikings are going to crap the bed in a game this year, it’s best it came right around the midpoint of the season.

We’ve seen Minnesota have stinkers before, and two of those horrible defeats came in the NFC Championship. The Vikings were steamrolled by the New York Giants back in 2000, 41-0, and more recently, 38-7 against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.

So better it happens now when Minnesota can lick their wounds, make some changes and prove to themselves and the rest of the league that this isn’t who they are. The same can’t be said if a loss like this came in the playoffs. They’d be embarrassed and eliminated, which is the worst way a team can go out.

The Vikings do have some adjusting to do. The injury to Christian Darrisaw means that Blake Brandel will start at left tackle. They can’t leave him on an island against Matthew Judon and company when they take on the Patriots on Thursday. They can adjust by putting a tight end over on that side at all times or have C.J. Ham on the field as another line of protection.

They can also roll Kirk Cousins away from pressure and have him get the ball out very quickly, knowing that the offensive line is porous. Again, these aren’t luxuries they’d have if this humiliating loss were to come in mid-January instead of mid-November.