3 most disappointing Vikings in the Week 12 win over the Patriots

Harrison Smith – S

This may not be a popular opinion since he did lead the Vikings in tackles on Thursday, but Harrison Smith had some truly horrible and baffling moments in this game.

The first one came on the Patriots’ first offensive play of the day. Mac Jones dropped back with absolutely zero pressure in his face and lobbed a duck toward wide receiver Jakobi Myers.

Smith undercut the throw, but instead of turning around, he just ran facing and toward Myers, allowing the ball to go over his head and right into Jakobi’s mitts.

If Smith had turned around, worst case, it would’ve been an easy pass breakup, but it probably would’ve ended up as an interception. Had he picked that off, that would’ve given Minnesota the ball inside the 50, and they could have been on their way to an easier win.

The other play that was a bit head-scratching by Smith was in the second half. Jones tossed a ball to running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the flat, and it was well blocked. He began picking up fairly large chunks of yardage, and then Smith ran over to help.

Instead of laying Stevenson out, he basically ran with and ahead of him, zig-zagging back and forth until someone else finally pushed the back out of bounds after a gain that was much larger than it ever should’ve been.

That was very confusing to see, and it makes one wonder what Smith was doing or thinking at the time.

Smith is still a very good player, but these plays are ones that he easily makes four or five years ago. Age is starting to catch up with the future Ring of Honor inductee, and when he makes bad plays, he is going to get called out on it.