The Vikings held on to defeat the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, 36-28. It shouldn’t have been that close.
Other than a missed field goal and a missed extra point, the Vikings rarely saw anything but success in the first half. The offense was great. The defense might’ve been better.
Finishing halves have been a season-long problem. This game should’ve been over when the Vikings escaped the end of the half unscathed, leading 23-0.
This game should’ve been over in the third quarter after a punt return and interception set the Vikings offense up at the Steelers 34- and 30-yard line. The second half started with terrific opportunities to bump the score to as much as 37-0. Instead, the Vikings settled for field goals. Leading 29-0 with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter is great. It could’ve been better. It should’ve been better.
Then the game turned into something that it didn’t need to be.
From 2:11 remaining in the third quarter to 12:11 remaining in the game, the Steelers scored 20 points. Over five minutes of game time the Steelers cut the lead from 29-0 to 29-20. The game had become a typical 2021 Vikings game. An edge of the seat, gripping event.
This game should’ve been over when Kirk Cousins connected with K.J. Osborn for a 62-yard score. Just like that, the Vikings regained the momentum and a two-score lead. 36-20.
This game should’ve been over when the Vikings defense responded to the offense’s quick score by forcing a three-and-out.
This game should’ve been over when the Vikings offense responded to the defense’s stop by starting a time-consuming drive.
Then Cousins threw his second interception of the game. Great.
For the second consecutive game, Cousins had his facemask grabbed on a play that resulted in an interception. That ain’t right. Instead of a penalty, the Steelers had the ball at the Vikings 21-yard line. Two players later, the Steelers had another touchdown and the Vikings had another one-score game.
This game should’ve been over when the Steelers were flagged for grabbing Osborn on a 3rd-and-8 with just over two minutes to play. It looked like the Vikings only needed to run out the clock. Instead, the officials picked up the flag that was thrown and played as if the grab had never happened.
The Steelers had the ball and a chance to tie.
This game wasn’t over until Harrison Smith punched the ball out of the hands of Steelers rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth. In the end zone.
It’s never easy.
36-28. This game should never have been that close but it wouldn’t be a 2021 Vikings game if it wasn’t.
It was definitely a tale of two halves. For both teams.
First half: 23-0 Vikings
Second half: 28-13 Steelers
The obvious difference was that despite some struggles the Vikings managed to do some scoring in the second half.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer summed up his team’s Jekyll and Hyde play quite simply:
“The team that played in the first half was pretty darn good and could probably beat anybody. The team that played in the second half could get beat by anybody.”
It’d be nice if the Vikings could somehow put together a complete game. They’ve yet to do that this year.
In the second half, the Viking kept sabotaging themselves. They wasted two glorious touchdown opportunities to start the half. Kris Boyd’s mind-numbing taunting penalty flipped a Steelers 3rd-and-12 at the Vikings 35-yard line to a 1st-and-10 at the 11-yard line. Instead of a great defensive play, Boyd facilitated the Steelers first touchdown. Cousins interceptions served up the Steelers second and third touchdowns.
The five minute span from the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter was a very charitable five minutes. It turned a blow-out into a game decided on the final play.
The 2021 Minnesota Vikings don’t take the easy path.
At a glance, the difference in this game was eight points. The real difference in the game was the stunning return of Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. After a shoulder injury in Week 12, he was supposed to miss at least two games. Maybe more. While all of the amateur and sideline doctors honked, Cook took the field after missing a single game. Fitted with a shoulder harness and a whole lot of determination, he was brilliant. He was so brilliant in the first half that he was on pace to track down Adrian Peterson’s single-game rushing record. On only 14 carries, Cook totaled 153 yards with two touchdowns in the first half. It helped his shoulder that he was often in the Steelers secondary before he was touched.
For the game:
27 carries
205 yards
2 TDs (29,7)
Brilliant.
Nearly as important as his 205 rushing yards was his 17-yard fourth quarter reception. Facing a 3rd-and-9 at their own 26-yard line, the Vikings could not give the ball back to the Steelers with 2:51 to play. Cousins hit Cook over the middle for 17 yards. The new set of downs allowed the Vikings to drain the Steelers of their timeouts. That was key to the final-second win.
The Vikings didn’t take the easy route to the win but they still bumped their record to 6-7. Four regular season games remain. They are on the cusp of playoff inclusion. They will only be included in the playoff fun if they play those four games more like they did in the first half against the Steelers and less like they did in the second half. This team has yet to play a complete game. I’d sure like to see eight of those. The Vikings have about 10 days to get ready for a Monday Night date with the Chicago Bears. Cook has 10 days to get his shoulder better. Adam Thielen and Christian Darrisaw have 10 days to get their balky ankles right. And Kirk Cousins has 10 days to recalibrate his accuracy. The 10 days are a timely break before an eight-game run.
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