5 Takeaways from the Minnesota Vikings’ Loss to the Baltimore Ravens
The Minnesota Vikings headed back home on Sunday with the hopes of starting a winning streak against the Baltimore Ravens to begin the second half of the season.
No such luck would arrive though as Minnesota fell to Baltimore by a score of 27-19. With the loss, the Vikings now move to 4-5 on the year as they continue to struggle to get back above that .500 mark following a 2-1 start to the season.
Here are five takeaways from this latest loss.
Sloppy Penalties Strike Again
The Minnesota Vikings had one of the sloppiest days in recent memory in terms of penalties. The team was penalized 13 times for 102 yards, including a ridiculous eight false starts on the offense with seemingly everyone involved from offensive linemen to Justin Jefferson to J.J. McCarthy.
Considering this was a home game for the Vikings, it is simply unacceptable to have this many false start penalties called. The team was not prepared for its cadence on offense, and it showed in the worst ways possible.
Bad Day for Special Teams
It was a rough day for Minnesota on special teams as well. Particularly, it was one of the only games this season where Myles Price showed his inexperience at the NFL level. The rookie fumbled a pair of kick returns with one of those fumbles being lost.
That lost fumble came after the Ravens took their first lead of the game with a 22-yard field goal, and the Ravens immediately went down the field and scored again with Justice Hill punching in a one-yard touchdown run. After taking that 19-10 lead, Baltimore never looked back.
Great Outing for Jalen Nailor
One of the only bright spots of this game for the Vikings on offense, Jalen Nailor showed that he can be relied on to contribute in this offense. The fourth-year receiver put together five receptions for 126 yards and a toe-tapping touchdown to give Minnesota a puncher’s chance down the stretch of the fourth quarter.
Nailor also was the X-factor of Minnesota’s opening drive touchdown, putting together a 62-yard reception to move the Vikings near the goal line. This showing came after he sealed Minnesota’s win over the Detroit Lions with a reception. The young receiver seems to be building some momentum in this offense.
Up-and-Down Again for McCarthy, but Mostly Down
J.J. McCarthy is still trying to find his footing as an NFL quarterback, but this one hurts because it seemed so promising after that opening drive touchdown. McCarthy finished his day completing just 20 of his 42 passes for 248 yards, a touchdown, and a pair of interceptions. Those two interceptions very easily could have been three if the refs did not questionably overturn an apparent interception by Roquan Smith.
McCarthy also had a number of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage over the course of the day, and he faced a ton of pressure, being hit 11 times over the course of the day. The fact that he took that many hits and was only sacked once may be the most impressive part of his day though as McCarthy continues to improve his instincts in the pocket.
Jordan Mason Nowhere to Be Found
The Vikings continue to not utilize the running game as much as many fans likely want as the team finished with just 18 carries, and McCarthy’s 48 rushing yards led the team. 26 of those yards came on a scramble during Minnesota’s last-minute desperation drive.
As Minnesota’s running game continues to see a lack of utilization, so does Jordan Mason. The running back, who the Vikings traded fifth and sixth round picks to obtain from the 49ers, saw just five touches throughout the entire game on Sunday with 31 yards to his name. While the Ravens pulled away down the stretch by utilizing their running game, the Vikings continued to rely on moving the ball through the air. Of course, it’s easier to do when Derrick Henry is in the backfield, and Lamar Jackson is the quarterback, but it’s frustrating to see nonetheless.
Editor’s Note: Information from ESPN and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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