Minnesota Vikings Preseason Game #1

The Minnesota Vikings opened the 2023 preseason in Seattle against the Seahawks with a 24-13 loss. This was one of those preseason losses that didn’t feel too bad. When it was equals vs equals (2s vs 2s) in the first half, the Vikings were the better team. The scoreboard showed it, 10-7. The play on the field showed it. When they didn’t put themselves in a hole with penalties, the Vikings easily moved the ball. Quarterback Nick Mullens guided the offense to the Seahawks side of the field on three of the team’s five first-half possessions. Two of those three possessions ended in points. The Seahawks offense earned more than one first down on only one of their five first half possessions. 

In the first half, the Vikings offense moved and the defense held. For the most part, the Seahawks did neither. 

The second half was a whole other story. 

The Seahawks flipped the game when “starter” Drew Lock played through the third quarter. Entering the fourth quarter, the Seahawks led 17-13. A fluky, jump ball heave by third-string Seahawks quarterback, and descendent of Ragnar Lothbrok, Holton Ahlers provided the final seven points. 

Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Hall struggled throughout the second half. The offensive line provided little protection but he definitely looked like the project that he is in his first NFL action. He did have a nice 19-yard sideline throw to N’Keal Harry. That throw converted a big 3rd-and-4 and provided the Vikings lone offensive threat in the second half. 

Vikings 13 

Seahawks 24

The good of the Vikings first preseason game:

1. The Defense

The Vikings defense was horrible last season. Improvement was expected when Brian Flores was hired as defensive coordinator. Through offseason workouts and training camp, there’s been a lot of talk of improvement in scheme, play, and attitude. It all showed up in the first preseason game. The players flew to the ball. The defense was attacking. There was none of the passive play that often made the 2022 Vikings a very difficult watch. There was a consistent pass rush throughout the game. It was actually fun to watch the Vikings defense again. This was a great start. 

2. Jordan Addison

Officially, Jordan Addison caught one pass. His first reception in the NFL. It was a 22-yard sliding catch that could’ve been much more if Mullens had hit in stride. Unofficially, his first NFL reception came earlier. It was a beautiful, diving, sideline catch. The officials ruled that both sets of toes weren’t in bounds. Replays showed that those toes were in bounds. Probably due to it being a preseason game, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t challenge the ruling. 

3. Ivan Pace Jr.

The undrafted linebacker has been the talk of training camp. Ivan Pace Jr. didn’t disappoint. Other than a personal foul on the Seahawks sideline, he was fun to watch in his NFL debut. 

4. Ty Chandler 

Ty Chandler picked up where he left off after last year’s preseason. Right now, he looks like the clear RB2 to Alexander Mattison. 

5. Jalen Reagor

Chandler and Jalen Reagor provided the bulk of the Vikings offense in the first preseason game.

6. Luiji Vilain 

It felt like Luiji Vilain was in Lock’s face on each of his snaps. 

7. NaJee Thompson 

NaJee Thompson was signed as an undrafted free agent for his special teams. After seeing his first NFL action, I’m scrambling to find a way to get him on the 53-man roster. I’m sure the Vikings coaches, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels in particular, are doing the same. 

The bad:

1. Andrew Booth Jr.

I’m getting real close to those fans that have long had concerns for Andrew Booth Jr. Former UCLA slappy Jake Bobo made Booth look silly on his touchdown. 

2. Jaren Hall

I hate to put a rookie quarterback on the “bad” list for his play in his first NFL game. His offensive line did him no favors. Still, everything seemed to happen to fast for him. He just needs to see more snaps in “live” action. 

Perhaps the best moment in the Vikings-Seahawks game occurred late in the first quarter when the NFL Network telecast experienced some difficulties. It was such a relief when the broadcast flipped to the Vikings team of Paul Allen and Peter Bercich. With Michael Robinson in the booth for NFL Network, it was essentially a Seahawks broadcast. The banter and coverage was 100% Seattle. When former Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett was welcomed to the booth as a guest, it somehow managed to lean even further to the Seahawks. I don’t know how one does this with a national broadcast. I was about to mute the nonsense when the coverage was flipped to Allen and Bercich. Now, there was certainly a purple hue to the content for the rest of the game but the audience was made aware that a second team was on the field. 

The Vikings host the Tennessee Titans on August 19.