Daily Norseman
The Minnesota Vikings just lost a very winnable game due to several key miscues, dropping them to 3-3 on the season and last place in the NFC North division standings. It was the fourth game this season the Vikings have been -2 or worse in the turnover battle, a situation that carries just a 15% win rate in the NFL. The Vikings also failed to score a touchdown on five of six trips to the redzone, due to numerous miscues including a holding penalty that negated a touchdown, a snap over the quarterback’s head, a missed open receiver and bone-headed intentional grounding penalty by Carson Wentz, and a dropped TD pass that could and should have been a more accurate throw. The Vikings defense did a good job bottling up the Eagles’ ground game, but Isaiah Rodgers getting beat twice over the top compromised what had otherwise been a solid defensive performance.
Self-inflicted miscues have plagued the Vikings in five of their first six games this season, whether turnovers, penalties, or missed assignments. It’s an ongoing problem Kevin O’Connell has identified several games ago but so far his team has failed to correct. There are positives as well in different aspects of the Vikings’ game, and they are getting healthier on both sides of the ball, but have only one solid game in six attempts.
So what now for the Vikings as they navigate the season?
The Vikings are 3-3 with eleven games to play. Eleven. It’s a long season and everything is still within reach. As disappointing as the first injury-riddled third of the season has been, the Vikings have plenty of opportunities to get right. In many ways, since the Vikings got hit hard with injuries- including to starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy- just getting through the early part of the season within striking distance is an acceptable if disappointing outcome. But it does put the onus on a healthier Vikings team to eliminate the miscues against a tougher slate of opponents to maintain a path to the postseason.
The Vikings are on a short week with a Thursday night game upcoming at the Los Angeles Chargers, so that likely means one more game with Carson Wentz at quarterback until a healthy J.J. McCarthy has a full week of practice to prepare for his first start since mid-September. The Vikings face a Chargers team that has been reeling with injuries having dropped three of their last four games. Their one victory being over the hapless Dolphins. The Chargers are a very beatable team at this point despite the Vikings having to travel on a short week. Managing a victory here sets the Vikings up for the return of McCarthy and a nearly fully healthy team if Andrew Van Ginkel is able to return as well.
Getting J.J. McCarthy back with a healthy and...
