4 most disappointing Vikings in the Week 16 win over the Giants

Adam Thielen – WR

The Vikings are racking up receiving yards every single week this season, but not many of those are going Adam Thielen‘s way. He hasn’t hit the 100-yard mark once this year and doesn’t see nearly the targets that he has in the past.

So when Thielen does have some balls come his way, he needs to make the most of those opportunities.

He had a drop against the Giants, and he ended up catching just one ball for six yards on five targets. That was underwhelming, but what was worse, and the most disappointing thing about Thielen’s day, was his demeanor on the sideline after a clear mix-up on a play.

Minnesota was going for it on fourth down, and a ball was launched toward the sideline. Both Justin Jefferson and Thielen accidentally wound up in the same spot, and Jefferson actually got a hand on the ball, but it ended up deflecting away from Thielen.

After that play, the cameras panned to the sideline to show Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Thielen having a discussion. The veteran receiver was clearly upset, and he wouldn’t even look his coach in the eye as he was trying to talk him through the play and what went wrong.

Thielen is a leader on this team and an old veteran. Apparently, even leaders and veterans get frustrated at times, and he didn’t hide his displeasure from his coach

Thielen is a class act, and he knows his role on the 2022 Vikings’ offense is a little more than a bit part. He isn’t going to have the targets that Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson have, but he needs to haul in the balls he actually does get and not throw a fit on the sideline when talking to his coach.