MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For all their setbacks over the first six weeks, whether self-inflicted or unlucky, the Minnesota Vikings emerged from their bye in a favorable position.
They were settled to play Dallas in their cacophonous stadium Sunday for their first prime-time game since before the pandemic. Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush was making his first NFL start because star Dak Prescott sidelined by injury. The Vikings had control of the third wild-card spot in a weak group of competitors beyond the NFC’s clear top six teams.
The offense cruised into the end zone in seven plays on the opening drive, an early suggestion the Vikings would enjoy a stress-free game for once. The Cowboys were allowed the second-most yards per play in the league entering the week.
Then this well-paid group, with Kirk Cousins protecting the ball better than ever and the star trio of running back Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen at his disposal, mostly stalled on the way to an ugly 20-16 defeat.
“We needed a win,” Cousins said. “To not get it done is disappointing.”
The Vikings (3-4) converted only one of 13 third downs, a 7.7% success rate that ranks as the worst by any NFL team in a game this season, according to Sportradar data.
“They were switching up coverages. They were doing some stuff that wasn’t really scouted, I guess you could say, in trying to take away things that we do well, and they had a good game plan for that,” Thielen said. “But I still think everyone’s got to kind of look at themselves, and say, ‘What could I have done to win?'”
The offense has produced several winning halves in the seven games this year, still searching for a complete performance that can put away an opponent instead of leaving the closing stretch in the balance. Against the Cowboys, the Vikings didn’t even thrive with the ball for a full half.
Whether due to play-calling, pass rush, tight coverage or overcautious decisions by Cousins, their most obvious limitation was a dearth of deep completions to Jefferson, Thielen or K.J. Osborn. The only third down conversion came on the first drive, a leaping 31-yard catch by tight end Tyler Conklin along the right sideline.
Every other pass attempt on third down was short of the sticks, incomplete or not. Fullback C.J. Ham had more receptions (three) than Jefferson (two), an unforgivable statistic in a game such as this.
“It’s not like we don’t have those things that we’re planning on doing. It’s just something where they’re not working,” coach Mike Zimmer said.
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November 03, 2021 at 12:11PM
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Cousins, Vikings offense leaving far too many tries short - Marshall Independent
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