For the first time in at least three seasons the Vikings were completely out-played physically. The Titans offensive line didn't dominate the game, but they controlled the Vikings for the most part, enough to keep drives a live. It seems the 2008 Vikings are going to be a team of almosts and could-haves.
They had more than enough chances to get back in this game after falling behind by 10. They had more than enough chances not to fall behind to start with. Turnovers put them in the hole, and penalties spread dirt over their collective spirit. The game was actually quite similar to the Week 1 loss to Green Bay. The opponent more or less outplayed them, even if only by a little, but allowed the Vikings numerous opportunities to turn the tables. Turnovers, penalties.
Aside from the obvious turning point in the game, an Adrian Peterson fumble deep in the team's own territory, the Minnesota offensive play calling was one of the major reasons they lost this game. From the outset Tennessee appeared much better prepared for this game. It almost seemed that Minnesota had no gameplan. There was no consistency in the play calling from drive to drive. Chester Taylor has to carry the ball; there is no excuse for his finishing with one carry for one yard. Peterson was used well for the most part, but why isn't he ever part of the 4th quarter strategy?
The number one question that needs to be asked of Brad Childress: Why is it that with Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback, the team was running on 3rd and 6, and now with Gus Frerotte at the helm, they are passing on 3rd and 2? There is no doubt that Frerotte has improved the team's 3rd down conversion rate, but how about using your team's strengths a little more?
Defensively, there is no doubt that the Titans came out and did some things that the Vikings weren't ready for. But, 21 of their points were scored off of turnovers, two of those touchdowns scored on extremely short fields. And in the second half, the Titans offense could not get going at all. They finished with 275 yards. The defense even came up with a turnover at the end of the first half, which was wasted on a Ryan Longwell missed field goal.
So, for probably the 15th time since Brad Childress took over as Minnesota's head coach, the defense did everything it needed to do to win a game, but got no support from the offense. The only good news? Even at 1-3, Minnesota is only one game behind Green Bay, and has finished th toughest stretch of its season. Hope is hard to grasp after a game like that, but in today's NFL, there is no reason to count them out. Yet.
Post script: This was a sprawl, quite fresh reaction to this game. But there are quite a few other things that were not discussed, including: the Vikings awful kick coverage unit, more dropped passes, Bobby Wade coming up huge on 3rd downs, and Jared Allen being held every other play.
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