5 most disappointing Vikings in the loss to the Lions in Week 14

Ed Donatell – Defensive Coordinator

Ed Donatell makes the disappointing list, and at this point, it might actually be disappointing if he didn’t. Ed just keeps rolling out the same scheme week after week and hoping for the same results. That isn’t quite the definition of insanity, but it’s a method that has finally caught up with the team and led to a defeat.

Donatell was upfront about his defense giving up yards every single week. He basically said that’s fine as long as we don’t let the team into the end zone. While that held true in games against the Jets and Commanders, it didn’t hold up against the Lions.

Donatell’s shell scheme with zero pressures couldn’t slow or stop the potent Lions’ offense. He had his secondary standing still as guys in powder blue uniforms streaked by them. His elite tandem of pass rushers couldn’t get close to Jared Goff, and he did nothing to create any pressure to make things more difficult for this Lions’ offense.

It has gotten so bad that Kevin O’Connell said in his press conference that the team would look at all options to improve this side of the ball. We will see if that happens or not, but giving up over 400 yards of offense five weeks in a row is simply unacceptable.

Donatell’s scheme and game plan were once again extremely disappointing, and he better have some new wrinkles thrown in as the Vikings look to clinch the North against the Colts this Saturday.