Vikes/Seahawks post-game thoughts

[RandyMoss84]

The Vikes went on the road and gave a spirited performance against an undefeated team. They played hard tonight and that was a fun game.

It was also a winnable game and they gave it away with mistakes. The most glaring might have been Zimmer's decision to go for it on 4th down rather than kick a FG that would put them up by 8 with 2 minutes left. I liked Zim's aggressiveness tonight but if you're going to be aggressive in that situation, do something more unexpected than running off tackle against a defense that will be committing to stop the run.

You also have to consider who you're giving the ball if you fail on 4th down. Wilson's deadly in that situation and he proved it again.

There was a lot to like tonight. They ran the ball well. They dominated time of possession. The game plan was great. Cousins bounced back really well after the disastrous first half of the 3rd quarter. Thielen had a good night. Cook and Mattison were outstanding. Mike Hughes almost earned himself a game ball at the end (give him one anyway—Eric Wilson too). There was plenty to like.

Unfortunately, the turnovers, the decision not to extend the lead to 8, the conversion they allowed on 4th and 10 on Seattle's last drive... their mistakes did them in. Seattle deserves credit for pulling out the win but this was pretty close to a self-inflicted loss and it was a loss they couldn't afford.

It was an enjoyable game but this one hurts.

Do not let it hurt you too much, the season is a lost cause anyway, it would have hurt more if it is final game to defeat to get in the playoffs or get eliminated

[YikesVikes]

And oniel. He allowed his man to blow him back, ham then stopped the LB but oniel is sitting in the hole.

If he cuts it right he probably scores. No idea why he just went straight into hams back

It wasn't Hams Back, it was Oniels body. Ham set the edge but the initial hole was where Oniel need up clogging

[Boon]

If he cuts it right he probably scores. No idea why he just went straight into hams back

It wasn't Hams Back, it was Oniels body. Ham set the edge but the initial hole was where Oniel need up clogging

Hey percy, show him the pic lol

[ERIK the PURPLE]

This one really hurts because we dominated. I really wanted the FG and go up by 8. At 1-4, idk. Feels like it’s over which it probably was anyway given our injury situation. It’s not like Wilson hasn’t done these comebacks before. We weren’t facing Trubisky or Daniel Jones. I really liked Irv making some plays but where was Rudolph all night? Why no deep balls to Jefferson?

[YikesVikes]

It wasn't Hams Back, it was Oniels body. Ham set the edge but the initial hole was where Oniel need up clogging

Hey percy, show him the pic lol

Don't need the pic...
Rb cut off of Oniel being in the hole. The run is for short yardage, one is not trying to bounce it outside. It's to hit the hole and get the yardage. Oniel did not do his job.

[S197]

So what happens next week? Does one team go up 40 only to lose by 25? Or does a wormhole just open up and swallow both teams mid-4th quarter?

[RandyMoss84]

So what happens next week? Does one team go up 40 only to lose by 25? Or does a wormhole just open up and swallow both teams mid-4th quarter?

Vikings should win next week, Falcons are terrible but then again, with a new coach, Falcons will probably be pumped up

[Texas Vike]

I was cooked last night after an extreme workout in the morning following a pretty crazy night of drinking (what was I thinking?), so I literally fell asleep on the couch in the 3rd when Seattle looked like they had just woke up and they were now going to win by 20. What the heck happened? When I awoke we were driving with a little over 2 minutes and then I saw "the decision" and that got me out of my half slumber. I sat up and watched us fail. The Seahawks ensuing drive went better for our D than I'd expected until "Hold me close you tiny Dantzler" looked like he thought he was going to intercept a 4th and 10 ball and instead got beat, which is when I said out loud to no one, "there's the Vikings I know".

And the rest was so classic Vikings that it seems scripted. You just can't make this crap up. What a bunch of suckers we are; Charlie Brown, getting taken in to believe Lucy will hold the ball this time...

[Dmizzle0]

I'm still sad I'm trying to forget this game ever happened

[Barry]

However, you also have to be able to get an inch and stop a 95 yard drive that features two 4th down opportunities to seal it.

This.
Going for it there was the correct call. With the way they were moving the ball on the ground, you have to be confident you can get that first down.

You know who Wilson is, you know he can scramble and make the throws downfield. If you are going to blitz, you have to account for him escaping the pocket.

[Mothman]

Don't need the pic...
Rb cut off of Oniel being in the hole. The run is for short yardage, one is not trying to bounce it outside. It's to hit the hole and get the yardage. Oniel did not do his job.

Exactly and the still shot is deceptive anyway. Ham is blocking Barton but doesn't have him under control and Barton's flowing toward that hole. If Mattison bounces it outside and starts moving laterally, I'm not convinced Barton doesn't get to him. We'll never know but the play was designed to go inside Ham's block and as you said, it's a short yardage run. Mattison's supposed to get through a gap and pick up that yard and unfortunately, the gap wasn't really there.

My problem is with the play call and the playcalling on that drive. It's a matter of personal opinion but I've always believed in aggressive football and to me, that means a lot more than going for it on 4th down. If a team is going to go for it in that situation, I don't think it makes sense to run behind the least effective side of the line (they ran much better to the left last night). The Vikes play in a division that has two 4-win teams right now so their season was practically on the line yesterday. That 4th down play called for one of the best plays in their playbook. That's when you break out the "sure thing" goal line play, perhaps something imaginative or deceptive. Defy expectations, use play action, split a TE off a run formation and score. Spread the defense out. Catch them off guard when they are 100% committed to stopping the short yardage run!

Anyway, prior to that play the Vikes played that drive conservatively, as if they were just hoping to run as much clock as possible and ideally, close out the game. That's fine and they were running it effectively but IF the idea was to be aggressive, IF the idea was to put a dagger in the Seahawks, why not break up that string of 6 or 7 runs in a row with an unexpected shot to the end zone? Get the defense thinking "run" and then go for the TD and close out the game! That's aggressive football.

Oh, well. It just didn't work out.

[chicagopurple]

no it wont, because the GM doesnt know how to build a winner.....until spielman is gone nothing will change.

and pLEASE, explain what we have gained by NOT kicking a Field goal and going up by 9 points on the road with little time left on the clock.....Zim is a senile defensive coordinator pretending to be a Head Coach.

[VikeFanInEagleLand]

I can't believe how many are defending this call. I keep hearing how they like his aggressive call, BUT where were his aggressive calls before this. Once the Vikings were in FG range, they ran the ball. If his thinking was to put the game away, then why not take a shot at a pass into the end zone once or twice? No...it seemed that he was content with running the ball, chewing time off the clock and kicking the FG (all of which I agreed with). He put himself in the exact situation he was playing for ,and THEN he he didn't kick the FG....a FG that forces Wilson to dive the field and:

> Score a TD
> Score a 2-Point conversion
> score in Overtime

I don't care what anyone says. I don't care what the charts say. The FG was the right call to make. I don't care if they pick up the first down, it would still be a bad call with a good outcome. A win would have been nice, especially considering that they have a reeling Atlanta team next week who just fired their coach. 3 - 3 before the bye would have been nice.

[VikeFanInEagleLand]

Team played with a lot of guts and heart...only to have Zimmer throw their effort in the trash

[VikeFanInEagleLand]

Let me also add that Wilson has to accomplish all of the above IN THE RAIN. They scored the winning TD on 4th down. He failed in getting it into the end zone 3 out of 4 times. Would he have been able to get it in again of they needed a 2-point conversion? We'll never know.