3 most disappointing Vikings in the win over the Jets in Week 13

3rd Quarter Vikings

This is a first, but it had to happen. The entire team just went to hell in the third quarter in this one. The Vikings were up 20-6 a the half, and it seemed as if they were finally going to win a game comfortably.

They were getting the ball first in the third quarter with a chance to extend that lead even further, but went three and out. Then the defense gets back on the field and lets the Jets move the ball easily down the field.

They held up in the red zone holding the Jets to multiple field goals. The offense got another shot, and then Kirk Cousins overthrows T.J. Hockenson, and later Justin Jefferson has an uncharacteristic drop. It was painful to watch, and when it was all over, the Vikings were outscored 6-0, and suddenly the lead was down to eight.

The team was horrible in the third quarter against the Jets, and it isn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen. Are Kevin O’Connell’s adjustments not working? Is he getting outcoached by opposing teams who figure out how to attack his defense and stuff his offense? Or is the team just getting comfortable with a lead, and then they start to take plays off?

It’s worth wondering, but the team can’t perform this way in the third quarter in the playoffs or their postseason appearance will end up being very brief.