First and foremost, prayers for Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell. As of this writing, all I’m seeing is that he was taken to the hospital and is being evaluated for a neck injury. Wishing for very good news soon. When something like this happens, it puts meaningless complaints about the team and gameplay into perspective. Get well, Jack Campbell, and hoping for a full recovery. We’re all Lions fans now.
Vikings Get Their Reality Check
The Minnesota Vikings lost a game they deserved to lose. Our
winning was unsustainable, and today’s outcome was predictable once the competition improved. There would inevitably come a time when Flores and special teams couldn’t carry the team to victory. That day came at Ford Field in Week 8. The offense failed the test.
We’re now 6-1 and facing considerable headwinds: a ridiculously underachieving offense, a dominant defense that has recently shown vulnerabilities against the run, Will Reichard suddenly missing kicks, and an absolutely brutal upcoming stretch of games.
This is not the time to focus on the defense or the kicker. Both will be fine. The former spent nearly 36 minutes on the field. Fatigue lays the foundation for missed tackles, and the Vikings had double digits in the second half. They may also have been (justifiably) pressing for a turnover first, since our offense is about as reliable as a cheap paper umbrella. Jahmyr Gibbs being the best running back in football didn’t help.
In the end, despite the Lions rushing for 230 yards, Jared Goff was sacked four times and held to a Vikings-esque 176 yards passing. The Lions were held to 5-for-13 on third down and scored 19 points at home, despite averaging 31 points per game coming into the game.
Meanwhile, Will Reichard remains a superhero in my book. Not a concern. Mere hiccups for the king of aura, vibes, and stellar hair.
The Offense Has Run Out of Excuses
Last week, I gave the offense this week and next against a similarly porous Bills defense to get things right. And by “right,” I meant sniffing 30 points. After another week in which even 17 was out of reach, I’m moving it up. I’m now ready to slam the ejection-seat button.
In 20 quarters as a starter, the Kyler Murray-led Vikings offense is averaging just 17 points per game. He has just 5 TDs and 3 INTs, with two of the passing touchdowns coming because Justin Jefferson was ridiculous. After the Saints’ game inspired confidence, things were about to turn around; they haven’t. His QBR for the Lions game was only 36.8. Nothing looks easy right now. Everything is a slog. The passing game is an occasional T.J. Hockenson seam-route catch that breaks up a series of three-and-outs. Yes, it’s an exaggeration, but it’s rooted in some truth. I was really excited about the Murray signing in the spring because of the dual-threat capability we haven’t had consistently for over 20 years. With a few highlights here and there, that hasn’t materialized as I envisioned, either.
There are three possibilities. Scenario A is that Kevin O’Connell is putting Murray in advantageous situations to score 24+ points a game, but Murray is repeatedly failing to execute the offense efficiently. Scenario B is that, more often than not, KOC hasn’t put Murray in a position to succeed by maximizing his skill set and adjusting the play calling to his strengths. Scenario C is that it’s a little bit of both. I suspect the last one, if a little bit more A than B.
Regardless, the responsibility to fix it falls to KOC, the head coach and de facto offensive coordinator. If it’s A, he owes it to the rest of the team to see what Carson Wentz can do. If it’s B, he needs to swallow his pride, own his mistakes, and step out of his comfort zone. If it’s C, they need to work together to find the quickest viable way to meet in the middle and get things rolling right away. Like tomorrow. Or today. Better yet, yesterday.
But what’s with the urgency? We’re 6-1! It’s only Week 8; there’s plenty of time! Umm, no. There really isn’t. Two playoff spots go to the winners of the NFC East and South, leaving five spots for the following seven teams: Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears, 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams. A 10-7 record might not be enough this year. More on this in a bit.
Either way, outside help at quarterback seems unlikely. The only viable plug-and-play trade target is Kirk Cousins. The Raiders’ eyes would light up if Nolan Teasley’s name appeared on the caller ID. They’d hold all the cards, and given our desperation, the price could likely be prohibitive. And that’s assuming they’d even do it, since at 4-4 they’re still theoretically alive for the playoffs in a competitive AFC and Cousins is having a strong season.
Hey, if there’s one silver lining this week, at least we didn’t lose and didn’t have to watch J.J. McCarthy lead the Giants to another victory. Next week? All bets are off. You couldn’t have botched the QB situation any worse than the Vikings have over the past three seasons. It’s truly something to behold.
6-4 Incoming?
Spoiler for my Week 9 game preview in a few days: I can’t pick the Vikings to beat any top-tier team right now, given how this offense is playing. What’s the point of doing these articles if I’m not honest? There’s a real chance the Bills beat us comfortably in front of a nationwide audience on Monday night. Josh Allen is the most difficult quarterback in the NFL to defend. Playing at Lambeau Field is never easy, and it’s on a short week. Then comes the 6-1 49ers on a neutral field, with Brock Purdy playing like an MVP.
Looking at 6-4 on November 23rd is a distinct possibility, and memories of 2003 would shift from a whisper to a bullhorn in all directions. You are what your record says you are until your record catches up with who you really are. I’m afraid we may be in that boat, and I’m not the only one thinking so.
Without saying a word, Justin Jefferson’s expressions throughout the game spoke volumes, as did his decision not to address the media afterward. Silence is often the most effective form of communication. He deserves better. The Super Bowl-caliber defense and special teams deserve better. This locker room likely doesn’t reflect a 6-1 team.
Right now, the “QB Whisperer” is a 5-star restaurant serving cold pizza and stale French fries. If your goal is to raise a playoff participation banner at U.S. Bank Stadium next September, possibly sneaking into the playoffs and being one-and-done, then this team is for you. If you want to actually win a Super Bowl, something drastic has to happen at QB right away. We’ve already squandered the bye week that would’ve bought us time.
If that means scrapping the 2022-2026 modern West Coast offense playbook and starting over with plays tailored to Murray’s unique strengths and comfort level, fine. If it’s benching Murray for Wentz, fine. If it’s bringing Cousins in here before the deadline, fine. The status quo is no longer acceptable, and the excuses jar is empty. Fix it.
