Unraveled Vikings season can be summed up in five blunders on the field

Taking inventory of some key Vikings moments that turned a 5-0 start into a season that won't extend into the playoffs.

December 27, 2016 at 12:38AM
Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Kyle Wilber (51) ended up with the ball after Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) lost control of it while fielding a punt in the fourth quarter. Dallas challenged the ruling on the field and scored on the next play. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Dallas Cowboys 17-15 in an NFL football game Thursday night, December 1, 2016 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Cowboys linebacker Kyle Wilber (51) ended up with the ball after Vikings fill-in punt returner Adam Thielen (19) lost control of it while fielding a punt Dec. 1. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

More than five plays tanked the Vikings' once-promising season.

That season will end with a third-place finish in the NFC North and without a spot in the postseason, even though the Vikings won their first five games. Their fate was sealed Saturday, when they lost 38-25 at Green Bay to drop to 7-8 after that 5-0 start.

Let's take inventory of some key (non-injury) moments that, in chronological order, led to a 2-8 collapse in the past 10 games, including four consecutive losses in the NFC North. Every phase had an equal letdown even as much of the offseason focus will fall on their 30th-ranked offense.

Offensive line hemorrhages in Philly

Quarterback Sam Bradford was blitzed and battered, taking 19 hits with six sacks during the Vikings' first loss of the season Oct. 16 in Philadelphia. After losing both starting tackles, a trio of Jake Long, T.J. Clemmings and Jeremiah Sirles surrendered much of the damage. The offense squandered three consecutive takeaways by the defense, including when Brandon Graham pushed Clemmings aside and drilled Bradford on his goal-line interception. Long, the newly signed free agent, was then beat for a strip-sack to start the next series.

What they said: "You hate to say you have to be punched in the mouth," left guard Alex Boone said. "But at the end of the day, this better light a fire under some people."

Prevent defense busts vs. Detroit

On Nov. 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings seemingly put away the Lions off Sam Bradford's 13-play, 79-yard touchdown drive capped by a Rhett Ellison run. With a 16-13 lead in the closing seconds, then-kicker Blair Walsh, who missed two kicks that day, botched the ensuing kickoff with a touchback. Then the aggressive Vikings ran a prevent defense, which surrendered Matthew Stafford's 27-yard pass to Andre Roberts to set up the tying field goal. The Vikings defense folded in overtime for the 22-16 loss.

What they said: "That's probably the thing I regret the most," Mike Zimmer said of his prevent call. "There's 27 seconds left, they have no timeouts. Even a 60-yard field goal is a long ways to go. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably rush four and try and get it that way."

Bradford telegraphs pick at Washington

The Vikings 2016 offense is whatever Bradford can produce in spite of a limited scheme and offensive line. In Washington on Nov. 13, Bradford entered down 23-20 with nine minutes left. With no run game, he marched into Washington territory with five straight completions and a roughing-the-passer penalty. Then came the interception on a forced quick throw to Adam Thielen. Bradford didn't see Washington end Preston Smith dropping into coverage and threw right to him for just the second pick of the season. Bradford also threw a game-losing interception two weeks later in Detroit.

What they said: "Just didn't see it," Bradford said. "He made a good play. I've got to be able to see him when he drops into coverage."

Thielen's fumbled punt against Dallas

The Vikings' best defensive effort after the 5-0 start came against the NFC's top-seeded Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 1. They took a 9-7 lead in the fourth quarter, when Adam Thielen fumbled a punt return at their own 11-yard line. The initial ruling had Thielen, who has otherwise enjoyed a breakout season, down by contact before a Cowboys challenge overturned the call. Dak Prescott found Dez Bryant for an 8-yard touchdown pass on the next play in the Vikings' 17-15 loss.

What they said: "Just didn't do my job well enough," Thielen said. "Just bad ball security."

Joseph's ill-advised leap on Indy field goal

The Vikings' first defensive collapse of the season wasn't a blowout from the start. They held the Colts to two field goals for a would-be 6-0 deficit. But on the second field goal, nose tackle Linval Joseph illegally hit the long snapper while trying to hurdle the line. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was given a first-and-goal. Robert Turbin capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 10-0 lead in the Vikings' 34-6 loss on Dec. 18.

What they said: "That wasn't called," special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. "He was trying to make a play and he made a mistake. That's going to happen."


FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is shown under pressure by Philadelphia Eagles free safety Rodney McLeod (23) and outside linebacker Mychal Kendricks (95) during an NFL football game in Philadelphia. Minnesota's biggest weakness, the patched-together offensive line, was exposed in the team's first loss. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
In Philadelphia on Oct. 23, the Vikings’ porous offensive line was exposed. Quarterback Sam Bradford was pummeled all afternoon and sacked six times. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Preston Smith (94) intercepted a Sam Bradford (8) pass in the fourth quarter. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - November 13, 2016, Landover, MD, FedEx Field, NFL, Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Redskins
In Washington on Nov. 13, Bradford had the Vikings in good position, but missed Preston Smith (94) dropping into coverage, and Smith made a key interception. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Andrew Sendejo (34) hit Golden Tate (15) as he leapt into the end zone to score the winning touchdown in overtime. Detroit beat Minnesota by a final score of 22-16. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - November 6, 2016, Minneapolis, MN, US Bank Stadium, NFL, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Andrew Sendejo hit Golden Tate as he leapt into the end zone to score the winning touchdown in overtime on Nov. 6. It was another case of the Vikings let a victory slip away. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Shamar Stephen (93) and Linval Joseph (98) watched a replay of a Sam Bradford interception to see if they had to take the field. The interception was overturned because of a roughing the passer penalty. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - December 18, 2016, Minneapolis, MN, US Bank Stadium, NFL, Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts
Linval Joseph tried to leap over the long snapper and illegally touched him on a field goal by the Colts on Dec.  18. The penalty led to a momentum-turning touchdown instead. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Andrew Krammer

Reporter

Andrew Krammer covers the Vikings for the Minnesota Star Tribune, entering his sixth NFL season. From the Metrodome to U.S. Bank Stadium, he's reported on everything from Case Keenum's Minneapolis Miracle, the offensive line's kangaroo court to Adrian Peterson's suspension.

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