The Minnesota Vikings went into Tampa Bay and got off to a fast start, but lost momentum almost immediately when Dan Bailey missed an extra point — a harbinger to come for the kicker, who went 0-for-4 on the day, leaving 10 points on the board. They were also on the wrong side of a handful of questionable calls by the officials and gave up a bomb to Tom Brady, who was struggling to throw deep.
They really missed Eric Kendricks, but we all learned that Kirk Cousins transformed into Kirk Vick at times and, hey, the Vikings remain in the playoff hunt despite falling to 6-7.
Here are there four key takeaways from Sunday’s game:
Kirk Cousins is a running quarterback
This is a bit tongue in cheek, but in recent weeks Cousins has started to realize he can pick up yards on the ground. Today was his best rushing performance of the season, as he ran five times for 41 yards. Cousins isn’t the most graceful when he takes off and doesn’t quite have Mike Vick speed, but he can pick up first downs when he bumbles and stumbles his way downfield. Heck, Gary Kubiak even called a quarterback draw that resulted in a decent gain for the Vikings.
There are a few concerns when it comes to Cousins’ scrambling ability. The first, and most worrisome, is his propensity to dive headfirst. The guy just doesn’t like to slide and instead takes unnecessary hits that could be avoided had he given himself up with a slide. Not only is he getting hit, but he is also landing awkwardly. The fact he hasn’t gotten hurt yet is a bit surprising.
Cousins’ ability to pick up yardage on the ground has become a part of his game this season and isn’t a fluke. Teams will need to be aware that he will take off, and while it may not be the prettiest gait we’ve ever seen, it has proven to be effective.
The Vikings need a new kicker ASAP
The Vikings’ special teams have taken their fair share of blame this season and for good reason. This unit has been a disaster all season long, and changes will come in the offseason. Bailey was the biggest offender on Sunday. His missed kicks resulted in 10 points that didn’t go on the board, making him the most culpable player in the loss.
Those points changed the game entirely. The Vikings would have begun playing with more confidence and probably called the game differently on both sides, had they had a lead. The Bucs also might have felt defeated, abandoned the running game and tried to pass their way back into the contest. This could’ve resulted in turnovers that would’ve increased Minnesota’s chance the win.
Thanks to Bailey’s faulty leg, we will never know how this game could’ve gone. He is simply not doing his job right now after missing three kicks a week ago as well. Even with the loss, the Vikings are still in the playoff mix and can’t take the next step with Bailey as their kicker. They aren’t good enough to win games when giving away points and may be forced to make a move. COVID complicates things, as it is much harder to bring guys in and work them out while following all the protocols. One guy they are familiar with is Chase McLaughlin. He has been on the Vikings’ practice squad this season and an option after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him. He is young and still has upside, and it is clear that Bailey’s best days are behind him.
This game is completely different with Eric Kendricks
The Minnesota Vikings defense has struggled this season, and injuries are a huge reason why. This team is down to backups of backups at many positions, and Kendricks’ absence was devastating. He tweaked his calf in pregame warmups last week, and that injury kept him out again against the Bucs.
Kendricks’ ability to cover was sorely missed in Tampa. Early in the game, Todd Davis had a chance to intercept a pass or at least knock it down. Instead, he stopped in place and stared at the ball, allowed the receiver to catch it, and then made the tackle. That is a play that Kendricks could’ve easily intercepted. He would’ve broken on the ball quickly, and if he didn’t pick it off, he surely would’ve knocked it away.
There were also times when Davis allowed Rob Gronkowski to run freely down the field. He just doesn’t possess the speed or wherewithal to hang with talented pass catchers, and it showed in Sunday’s game. Davis also got flagged for that ticky-tack pass interference at the end of the half, which is something that Kendricks wouldn’t have allowed to happen.
Kendricks was sorely missed by the Vikings in the loss, and if he were on the field, this game could’ve gone much differently for the purple.
The Vikings are still in the thick of the playoff hunt
The Vikings’ loss today, coupled with the Arizona Cardinals’ win, knocked them out of the 7-seed. Luckily for Minnesota, the playoffs don’t start for another four weeks and they still have time to fight their way in. They are sitting at 6-7 and have a few very winnable games coming up. They play the Chicago Bears this week and then go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day. While the Saints are one of the top teams in the NFC, they lost on Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Vikings definitely have a shot. They finish the season at Detroit in a game that is also extremely winnable.
They could easily finish 8-8 and even have a shot to run the table. To do this, the offensive line is going to have to pass protect better, and the team will have to find a new kicker, but it is very possible. The Vikings will also have to hope Arizona loses one or two of their last three and that no other team in the hunt gets hot and jumps them in the playoff race. As frustrating as this loss was for the Vikings, it only temporarily hurts their playoff chances, and by no means kills them.
