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Bill Jandro -> RE: General Vikes Talk (10/9/2021 8:09:23 AM)
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Zone Coverage: The Vikings’ Defense Needs To Clamp Down Before Halftime
Minnesota has allowed 92 points through four games. That’s 11th in the NFL and a big improvement over last year when they ranked 29th in points allowed. However, 35 of those points, or just over 38% of their total points allowed, have come in the final two minutes of the first half. Conversely, the Vikings have only scored 10 of their 94 total points in the final two minutes of the first half. In fact, the one game they scored a touchdown in that window was their only win of the season.
Even more interesting about the Week 3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks is that it is the only time all season the Vikings didn’t allow their opponent to score in a two-minute drive to end the first half. Seattle began their lone drive inside of two minutes at their own 25-yard line with 16 seconds remaining. Minnesota’s defense played much smarter than the previous two weeks and allowed the team to carry momentum into halftime with a 21-17 lead. They would ultimately win 30-17.
However, the Vikings have given up points on six of seven (85.7%) two-minute drives. Meanwhile, they are allowing scores on only 37.8% of all drives this season, 14th in the league.
Somehow, the Vikings are 1-3 and have still outscored their opponents by two points over the course of four games. But Minnesota has been outscored 35-10 inside of two minutes. That’s meaningful considering the losses have come down to a field goal in overtime, a missed field goal at the end of regulation, and a 14-7 loss. Even though the defense is culpable for their shortcomings in these situations, the offense also fields much of the blame for not being able to sustain drives. To top it all off, questionable coaching (the squib kick and too many men on the extra point) is costing the team points here as well.
It’s not a good sign when teams give up any points going into halftime. The fact that the Vikings have allowed two scores in these situations to each team they’ve lost to is alarming. Teams preach “complementary football,” and right now the Vikings aren’t executing that. If they continue this troubling trend, their playoff hopes will go up in flames before they reach the halfway point of the season.
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