The Minnesota Vikings continued their losing ways to start the 2020 NFL season. This time, it's a 31-30 loss to the Tennessee Titans at US Bank Stadium. 31-30 looks better than 43-34 and 28-11. The Vikings looked better on offense and defense than they did in Week 1 and Week 2 losses to the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts. As some spots wonk once honked they don't post pictures in the standings. A loss is a loss no matter how good some things might look and the Vikings are 0-3.
The Vikings found a pass-receiving threat other than Adam Thielen. First-round pick Justin Jefferson was dynamite in his third professional football game.
7 receptions, 175 yards, 1 TD
His 71-yard touchdown was a beauty. Not only was it a beauty but it also gave the Vikings a comfy 24-12 third quarter lead. Unfortunately, there was still about 23 minutes left to play. That comfy lead didn't last long as the Titans responded with two touchdowns, 13 points, and closed the third quarter with a 25-24 lead.
Perhaps it's a sour rehashing of the sequences following Jefferson's touchdown but it feels like the Vikings responded to the supposedly comfy lead by playing not to lose while the Titans played to erase the lead with haste. For the most part, it appeared that the Vikings played with much more energy than they had in the first two games. Playing better helps. Converting some first downs helps. A young, exciting player like Jefferson emerging helps. But I can't get away from the worrisome fact that the game was lost in the seven minutes following Jefferson's big touchdown. Despite briefly retaking the lead in the fourth quarter, it never felt like the Vikings regained control of the game.
And their final possession was horrible. With plenty of time (1:44) to do something, they did nothing. Four plays, 1 yard, and a Hail Mary interception. The Titans defensive line, three-man defensive line, thoroughly dominated the Vikings offensive line in those four plays. The Vikings even received some penalty luck when emerging terror Jeffrey Simmons was called for a questionable roughing the passer penalty. As Mike Zimmer said, the final possession was a complete disaster.
Could've/Should've's
-Dan Bailey's missed field goal
-Holton Hill nearly ended the game with an interception on the Titans' final possession
-Adam Thielen catching Kirk Cousins' Hail Mary throw
If any of those had gone the Vikings way, this is probably their first win. It's silly to dwell on things that could've/should've happened. They didn't happen. A loss is still a loss no matter how close it could've/should've been a win.
The Vikings are 0-3. They have to win out before their Week 7 bye.
@Houston
@Seattle
Atlanta
That's a tough stretch but the Vikings have to stop losing. They have to start winning. That's all there is to it.
I can't leave this disappointing loss without mentioning some Vikings that did stand out:
Justin Jefferson
7 catches, 175 yards, 1 TD
-here's hoping that this is the start of something very special
Dalvin Cook
22 carries, 181 yards, 1 TD
2 catches, 18 yards
Harrison Smith
9 tackles
1 tackle for loss
1 interception
1 pass breakup
How often does a team lose a game when they have a running back with 199 total yards and a receiver with 175 yards? Again, pictures don't come with the standings. The Vikings lost another one.
No comments:
Post a Comment