Mike Zimmer was asked earlier in the week about his team’s lack of discipline in several home games this season, particularly with regard to penalties. “It doesn’t make any sense, does it?” said Zimmer. “That’s why I’m not real happy about it.”
After Sunday’s 34-6 beatdown at the hands of Indianapolis Colts, the Minnesota Vikings’ previous follies pale in comparison to what they subjected over 66,000 fans at US Bank Stadium to — no less, in a game that was supposed to be a relatively easy stepping stone, setting up a mega-matchup at Lambeau Field next Saturday.
The Vikings committed six penalties, most of them of the boneheaded, backbreaking variety.
It’s debatable that the game swung on a Linval Joseph personal foul in the first quarter. After stopping the Colts on three consecutive plays from the 3-yard line, Vikings fans rejoiced at the prospect of trailing by only one possession as Adam Vinatieri converted a short field goal, but Joseph attempted to vault the long snapper, presumably trying to block the kick, resulting in a leverage penalty that gave the Colts the ball at the 1. They scored two plays later. “I wasn’t trying to clear him, I was trying to jump straight up,” said Joseph.
“We fall on a guy; they know it’s a penalty,” said Zimmer, unforgiving of the blunder. “It’s a 10-yard field goal or something.”
On one drive, Everson Griffen jumped offsides on a 3rd and 5 to give Indianapolis a free first down. Later, Danielle Hunter wiped away what would have been a 3rd and 10 with an illegal hands to the face penalty, giving the Colts an automatic first down and eventual touchdown.
On yet another drive, the Vikings committed dual holding calls on opposite sides of the secondary. Indianapolis turned that drive into a touchdown as well.
Equally damaging were three Minnesota turnovers and zero takeaways — the team’s worst margin in any game this season. Adrian Peterson marred his return to the field with a red zone fumble. Sam Bradford threw an interception in his own territory to gift the Colts a field goal before halftime. Bradford later fumbled near the red zone as the Vikings tried to begin the second half with a comeback-sparking touchdown march.
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— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2016
In a nine-game stretch featuring seven losses and countless self-inflicted wounds, the Vikings chose to lump all their shortcomings together in a single 60-minute flameout.
Penalties, check. Turnovers, check. Red zone ineptitude? Check, no touchdowns. Porous third down defense? Check, Minnesota allowed the Colts to convert 54 percent of the time. Fruitless pass rush? Check, Vikings recorded zero sacks.
“We never stopped the run,” Zimmer said, “so we never really had the opportunity to rush the quarterback.”
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— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2016
The sackless day came after a stretch of 13 sacks in the last four games, which was detailed at ColdOmaha.com on Tuesday. Per ESPN.com, the Vikings only hit Andrew Luck twice as Luck threw for 250 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and got to watch Scott Tolzien take over in the fourth quarter. “They get paid, too,” said Joseph of the Colts, “and they had a good gameplan, they got the ball out fast, and they had a good plan. I can’t take it away from them.”
The defensive line was only the starting point. Linebackers were routinely beaten in coverage, including Chad Greenway on Erik Swoope’s touchdown to make it 17-0. The secondary was uncharacteristically leaky, part of which could certainly be attributed to Harrison Smith’s second consecutive absence. While Jacksonville was unable to exploit Smith’s backup Anthony Harris a week ago, Sunday was a different story. Harris made a team-leading 15 tackles — many coming after lapses in coverage. “Defense was very poor, lethargic, didn’t get off blocks, didn’t make tackles, busted coverage, didn’t cover people, poor on third down,” Zimmer recounted after the game. “Gave up three drives over 80 yards — touchdowns. Not a very good day.”
Zimmer told the Vikings this week that “when they think they’ve got the guy covered, they don’t” because of Luck’s incredible arm. The coach turned out to be prescient as the Vikings were rarely in the right position defensively, whether it was the young Harris or a veteran who should know better. Eight different Colts had receptions. While nickelback Captain Munnerlyn did a decent job against Indy star T.Y. Hilton (three catches on seven targets), the pass defense let the Vikings down as dramatically as it has all season. “I felt like we just came out lackadaisical,” said Munnerlyn, “like we were just going to get this win; like they were going to read our name or look at the stats and lay down for us.”
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— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2016
Injuries also added to a miserable day for the Purple. Defensive tackle Tom Johnson hurt his hamstring in the fourth quarter and was seen walking gingerly with a cane after the game. The Vikings have already placed Sharrif Floyd on the injured reserve for the rest of the season and waived Toby Johnson on Saturday, leaving them thin at the position.
Zach Line (concussion) and Adam Thielen (neck) also were forced from the ballgame. Minnesota has one fewer day to recover as the Vikings head to Green Bay for a Saturday game on Christmas Eve.
“Tough and about as ugly as they get,” said Bradford after the game.
That might be an understatement.
