That final Vikings defensive drive is EVEN WORSE when you re-watch it…?
AJ Mansour
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When Kirk Cousins hit Justin Jefferson open in the back of the end zone, we all thought it was over. After failing to assert themselves all afternoon, the universe had finally righted itself and the Vikings had overtaken the winless Detroit Lions…all things were right in the world.
Lest we all forget, the Vikings defense in the final two minutes of either half is historically bad.
After allowing another 6-points in the final two minutes of the first half on Sunday, the Vikings have now allowed a league worst 72-points in the final two minutes of the first half. That then, is the same exact defense that you brought back out onto the field after the Vikings took a 27-23 lead, only two quarters more tired at this point.
But it’s the Lions you guys….it’s Jared Goff you guys…It’s Dan Campbell with no time outs you guys…it’s a full 75-yard field to go without any real dangerous offensive weapons you guys.
Yeah…
So the Lions storm down the field with 1:50 left in the game, they go 75-yards and score on the final play of the game to send the Vikings home sad from the Motor City. Whatever, it sucks but it’s what we all should have expected…It was a trap game from the outset for a Minnesota Vikings team still hoping for the playoffs.
And it’s WAY WORSE when you watch it back a second time. Like you watch this highlight reel below back and it doesn’t look like two NFL teams playing against each other. It looks like an NFL team scheming and calmly dominating a college team that just isn’t playing on the same level. This is a perfect opportunity to remind you that the Lions had not won a game in 364 calendar days…you guys that’s one day short of a full year.
Seriously, watch this try not to throw up and notice some trends…
Goff to Hockenson – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to Reynolds – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to Igwebuike – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to Hodge – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to St. Brown – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to St. Brown – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to Hockenson – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Goff to St. Brown – No pressure on the QB, 5+-yard cushion on the receiver.
Then, just completely inexplicably, Goff to St. Brown in the endzone for the score. Again, no pressure on the QB and a 5-yard cushion in the endzone. THE ENDZONE IS ONLY 10 YARDS DEEP, WHY ARE YOU GIVING ANYBODY A 5-YARD CUSHION?!?!
It’s the final series of the game and as a defensive scheme the Vikings opted to go with a soft zone coverage…all. the. way. down. the. field.
Yeah, I’m sure everybody was tired. Yeah I’m aware that there were a lot of injuries and missing players on every level of the defense. BUT IT’S THE LIONS and Goff and the Lions are still NFL players, if you give them time and space, they’ll move the football.
Seriously, that clip of the final drive above will be used at all levels of football as a “what not to do on the final drive of a game” lesson for all of time. At least it should be.
Aj Mansour is a member of The Power Trip Morning Show on KFAN and works for iHeartMedia and the Vikings Radio Network. He’s also a senior writer for VikingsTerritory.com. Be sure to follow him on social media for the latest Vikings news and big opinions – @AjKFAN
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