LOUSY TRENDS

STEELERS 24

VIKINGS 21

Something happened on Sunday that has never happened before: the Vikings lost a game in Europe, this time specifically Dublin, Ireland.

It happened because something else happened that is happening far too often: the Vikings being badly outcoached in a game in which their offensive line was a serious problem.

The 3 point margin of defeat is incredibly misleading. This was every bit as ugly as the home opener, or the first 3 quarters in Chicago. Or, for that matter, the debacle against the Lions and Rams that ended the 2024 season. If you're scoring at home, that's 5 terrible performances by the Vikings in the last 6 games.

I certainly didn't expect a repeat of last week's demolition of the Bengals. That's the kind of game you're lucky to see once a year. But the Steelers aren't a great team. They needed a ton of turnovers just to squeak by the Patriots last week.

The first play of the game was a Jalen Redmond sack of Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings caught a big break when an apparent Jordan Mason fumble returned for a TD was overturned. Carson Wentz was finding Justin Jefferson a lot. We got a field goal. So alright, not so bad to start. 

But then the Steelers quickly adjusted to the Vikings' early pressure (in-game adjustments? What are those?), and Rodgers picked the Vikings D apart on an easy TD drive to grab the lead.

Then the Steelers stunned the Vikings on the next series, when Rodgers hit DK Metcalf on a slant (a slant? What's that?), who burned everybody for an 80-yard touchdown.

Somewhere during all this, the Vikings OL, already playing without Donovan Jackson, lost both Ryan Kelly and Brian O'Neill. So it was pretty much open season on Wentz, who at 14-3 was picked off. 

The Steelers drove to a field goal try, which was blocked by Isaiah Rodgers. That speck of momentum helped the Vikings grab another end of 2nd quarter field goal (4 for 4 thos year). Might have been more, but Jefferson tripped on the turf on a big play. Still, 14-6 at the half felt pretty good, all things considered.

But after halftime,.even down 60% of the starting OL, there were no adjustments made to speed up the passing game. Nope, it was still those 5 and 7-step dropbacks that seem to be the only plays KOC ever wants to run. Even with Jordan Addison back from suspension, there was no short passing game. Just the occasional dumpoff. Wentz was battered, harassed, and unsurprisingly threw another pick, this one cashed in with a TD.

Once the Steelers tacked on a field goal, it was 24-6, with almost half the 4th quarter gone. Now, finally, facing pure desperation, the stupid ass gameplan had to go. The offense had to go fast, and suddenly became effective. Wentz led a nice drive, and threw a TD to Zavier Scott, who toe-tapped for his fist NFL TD.

The defense let Pittsburgh get to the redzone quickly, but to their credit, they did stuff them on a questionable decision to run on 4th and goal.

Pinned at their own 1, I basically expected a safety, but instead, the Vikings got a little breathing room, and then Addison got behind the defense, and Wentz found him. Addison streaked for 81 yards. 

Problem was, it needed to be 82. Addison was tripped up at the 1. Every second already mattered, and now, once again, it was an ugly sequence on offense. Time ticked away as Jordan Mason was stuffed, and a couple of Wentz passes were incomplete. 4 years in and KOC still can't get effective short yard playcalls. Finally, on 4th down, Wentz hit Nailor for the score, and it was a 3 point game.

Wasting that extra minute and a half really changed the end of this game. The Vikings could have kicked deep, but instead had to try the onside kick. The Steelers recovered, but opted to punt on 4th and short, improbably leaving the undeserving Vikings a last chance to tie the game. 

It didn't amount to anything. The Vikings got a couple of first downs, but then Wentz got called for intentional grounding, and that was pretty much it.

I don't think it's a coincidence the offense found more juice in the 4th quarter, just like it did in Chicago, when KOC's hand was forced and he had to ditch the long developing plays. Sadly, it appears that he is just never going to adapt in-game to things going askew. Yeah, it would be great if you had a wall up front that could give endless protection to any QB back there, but that's clearly not ever going to happen. What is the coach's plan b? Does he have one? Or is he just another of these coaches who thinks he's a genius with all the right moves?

Cause it's becoming pretty routine to come out of a Vikings game and think KOC has been badly outcoached. I think it is long past time for him to hand off playcalling duties to Wes Phillips.

Credit to Wentz for battling back through the onslaught. I'm guessing it's not enough to keep JJ McCarthy off the field when he is deemed healthy, but no matter who is out there, they are going to need their coach to not put them in awful spots with first guess stupid play calls that are doomed to fail. 

The NFC North is gone for another year if this team can't figure things out fast.