Bad News Vikes Lose to the Bears
Vikings Territory Breakdown
Considering the full gamut of odd, bad, strange, embarrassing and downright maddening losses to the Chicago Bears, the Vikings sunk to a new low. It’s always weird when these two teams play in Chicago, or even worse, if it is Halloween Night. But on Monday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings succumbed to the glare of full moon fever and were taken down by Chicago 12-10—in a game in which the Bears were the first team this season to win without scoring a touchdown.
The Vikings offense was offensive. With 5:06 left in the first half, their offense complied just 20 yards, plus 45 penalty yards. But the biggest problem was, once again, the turnovers. Quarterback Josh Dobbs threw four interceptions (although three of them were tipped). The defense gave them two back late, but it was not enough for a team that gives away the football like candy to trick or treaters. The shine around the hero signal caller of just a couple weeks ago has definitely dimmed (and even his head coach couldn’t give him a full-throated defense in his postgame presser). Dobbs, who had seen so calm when he got to town four weeks ago, was rattled and confused and responded with multiple panic passes that were either picked or barely escaped one.
Now at 6-6 and on a two-game skid after their five consecutive victories, this team still holds a 60 percent chance to make the playoffs, but it doesn’t feel like they have any right to the postseason. Their recent wins under Dobbs suddenly look lucky as heck, and the Vikings probably resemble more like the team in the first quarter of the season than the one winning five in a row in the second quarter. They do have a QB who is new to the system, so it is understandable, but it may be time to see someone who has played/studied the offense all season. That question needs to be considered.
Once again, there are so many questions this week (there are always so many after a loss). But now the quandaries seem more desperate. Regardless, we at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast (Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory and purplePTSD and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com) are on hand to consider all of them. As the Purple heads into the bye week, we can be sure they will consider them, as well. So, stay tuned to the VT Breakdown podcast and consider them yourself.
Plenty of Blame to Spread around Starting with Joshua Dobbs in Damaging Loss to Bears