3 biggest disappointments from the Vikings loss to the Chargers in Week 3
By Nik Edlund
Disappointment No. 2
Minnesota's red zone offense
The Vikings red zone offense was extremely disappointing against the Chargers. They started off with another fumble that took points off the board in the first quarter.
On Minnesota's first trip in the red zone, tight end T.J. Hockenson had the ball ripped from his hands after catching a pass over the middle. This was a week after the Vikings turned the ball over four times, and protecting the football was a focal point of the week of practice leading up to this game.
Later in the game, Minnesota had an opportunity to win the game as they drove the ball down into the red zone. Again, they failed to cash in, opting for runs and dump-offs instead of throwing the ball into the end zone and being aggressive the way they were a season ago.
Their initial drive ended as a turnover on downs after an illegal shift on fourth down. They were then gifted another shot when the Chargers went for it on fourth down and failed, giving the Vikings the ball back inside the Los Angeles 30-yard line.
Again, Minnesota couldn't cash in. Kirk Cousins overthrew K.J. Osborn on what would've been a touchdown, and then the final nail came when Cousins opted to rush a play instead of spiking the football to stop the clock after a first down.
The hurried play was a pass that bounced off of Hockenson's hands and ended up in the arms of a Chargers' defender.
The Vikings have struggled to put points on the board this season when they are in the red zone, and to see it happen again was tough to watch.