Vikings-Seahawks

The one-win Minnesota Vikings lost to the undefeated Seattle Seahawks last night. 27-26.

This was a frustrating one. 

It was frustrating because the Vikings probably hit all of the objectives that the coaches set for this game. They dominated the time of possession. They kept blindingly bright star Russell Wilson off the field for long stretches. They kept him in check when he was on the field. Nearly all of his usual heroics were limited to the final drive. Beating the Seahawks always entails effectively handling Wilson. The Vikings did that last night. Unfortunately, the one time they didn't was when they had to. 

The Vikings didn't lose this game on Mike Zimmer's aggressive decision to go for the first down from the five-yard line with two minutes to play rather than kick the field goal. He took winning the game by gaining a few inches over giving his team an eight-point lead. He coached to win the game rather than coach to not lose the game. I liked the decision at the time. I didn't like it much when Alexander Mattison was stopped for no gain. I liked it even less when the Seahawks drove 94 yards for the game-winning score. I didn't like how things turned out but I agree with the decision that Zimmer made. Win the game when you have a chance to win it. Mattison gets the first down and probably scores if he takes his carry about a yard or two further right. The best thing that the Vikings’ offense did all night was keep Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense off the field. Zimmer’s aggressive decision was in line with that strategy. 

The Vikings lost this game in the three minutes of the third quarter after Dalvin Cook limped off the field with a groin injury. In those three minutes of gut punches the Seahawks scored three touchdowns. All on Vikings' miscues. A missed tackle on a punt return set the Seahawks up with terrific field position. Wilson took advantage. Two turnovers made the next scores even easier. The Seahawks only needed three plays and 46 seconds to score 14 more points. It doesn't get much easier than that. 

In a blink, the Vikings' 13-0 halftime lead turned into a 21-13 deficit. 

The Vikings controlled everything that came before those three minutes of the third quarter. They controlled everything that followed those three minutes. Until that damn 94-yard drive. 

That damn 94-yard drive nearly ended before it got started. On 4th-and-10 from their 23-yard, Wilson heaved a pass to DK Metcalf. Rookie corner Cameron Dantzler had the coverage but appeared to be tracking a pass that was about 10 yards further than the one that was thrown. Perhaps he lost the ball in the night sky. Who knows? I do know that if he tracked that ball properly he's in position to make a play on it. Wilson did his usual thing of tossing the ball in the air and hoping for the best. It worked and his desperation drive was alive. 

Wilson only completed four of 12 passes on the game-winning drive. While he was ultimately heroic it was a significant struggle for him. 

This was a frustrating one. 

This was a frustrating game because there was so damn much good in it. Other than the stumbles after Cook's injury, the offense moved at will. Mattison effectively stepped in for Cook and had the first 100-yard game of his career. Kirk Cousins played well. The Vikings ran well. The Vikings passed well. They moved the ball at will. Irv Smith Jr. broke out. The defense finally played well. They had Wilson contained and frustrated for the entirety of the first half. This depleted, injured, young defense was expected to struggle this year and they did struggle in each of the previous four games. They stepped up last night. They faced one of the league's best quarterbacks with one of the league's most explosive offenses and contained them. Despite giving up 27 points and a 94-yard game-winning drive, the Vikings' defense played well. If this is the start of what's to come, I like it. 

If not for those three minutes of stumbles, this game's a breezy win for the Vikings. 

Right guard Dru Samia was a problem last night. If he wasn't getting beat, he was getting flagged for trying not to get beat. He was making his third start in his second year so some difficulties can be expected. Original starter Pat Elflein had his own difficulties before he was injured but those were a dream compared to how Samia played last night. I've been hoping to see second-round pick Ezra Cleveland get a shot but he's been working at left guard. At least that's where he was playing during training camp. Do the Vikings play Cleveland at left guard and move Dakota Dozier to the right side? I'd like to see that mostly to see Cleveland but I'm not sure about making changes at two positions. 

A loss is a negative in every way. So, it's silly to dig positives out of a loss. It's a loss no matter the margin or how the team played. The Seahawks were supposed to roll over the Vikings. In every way but the final score the Vikings rolled over the Seahawks. It's still a loss. The Vikings are 1-4 and there's no way to paint that into a pretty picture. 

But 12-4 is still possibility. The road to that starts next week against the Atlanta Falcons.