Vikings coach Mike Zimmer asked for 28 points from his offense. He got that, with a point to spare, in the 29-26 victory over Washington on Sunday.
After drought, Vikings offense puts up a big number
By Master Tesfatsion, Star Tribune
Zimmer recognized the offense's performance in the locker room after the game, but he was interrupted by offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
"Coach, you should've asked for 28 [points] a month ago!" said Turner, turning the raucous applause into hearty laughs.
The Vikings offense averaged a little more than 17 points in its first eight games, and Zimmer said he wanted to give the unit something to shoot for against Washington. The Vikings eclipsed 28 points twice, against the Rams and Falcons, but scored only 48 in their past four games.
"I probably should've asked for more sooner," Zimmer said.
Jokes aside, Zimmer said he felt the Vikings scored their touchdowns when they needed them most. Three of the four scores occurred during the second half. They reclaimed the lead for good with 3:31 left on a 1-yard touchdown run by Matt Asiata in response to Washington's previous touchdown drive.
"That's the mark of a good football team, I think, is when the other team goes down and scores, you got to respond," Zimmer said.
Short of his goal
Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon nearly scored his first career touchdown on the first offensive drive in the second half. The rookie plowed up the middle on a handoff and stretched as far as he could on the 9-yard gain but fell a yard short.
"Arms weren't quite long enough, but it's all good," McKinnon said. "We still won, so that's the key focus."
McKinnon went back to the huddle after the play, though he likely knew the inevitable would happen. Asiata, who has served as the goal line back this season, trotted onto the field to replace McKinnon, and the Vikings scored on the next play for one of Asiata's three touchdowns.
But McKinnon and the Vikings offensive line sprung the running game on that drive with consecutive gains of 15 and 9 yards before Asiata's touchdown. The Vikings had just seven carries for 14 yards in the first half but finished the second half with 20 carries for 86 yards.
"It was a good drive though to come out the second half," McKinnon said. "Washington, they really have a lot of good run fits that first half. …We came out in the second half running pretty good. A lot of credit due to the [offensive line] just making those holes."
Day of containment
It wasn't pretty, but the Vikings defense contained an explosive Washington offense at TCF Bank Stadium. Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said the team knew Washington wanted to run laterally with the return of quarterback Robert Griffin III. His presence gave running back Alfred Morris his most productive game this season, with two TDs and a season-high 92 yards.
"[Griffin's] definitely an elite quarterback, and we knew where he wanted to go when he wanted to get out of the pocket and where he wanted to go on his boot," Floyd said. "Once we knew that, and we stopped the run and could just focus on him, it made it a great day for us."
Griffin scrambled seven times for 24 yards and Washington kept a balanced attack with 29 rushing attempts and 28 passing attempts. The Vikings allowed 347 yards but minimized Washington's impact on the scoreboard, holding its offense to two field goals and a turnover on downs late to seal the victory.
"They try to mix everything that they got into a game, and that made them difficult to really read," Floyd said. "At the end of the day, hitting the guard and hitting the tackle, it's still going to be a run or still going to be a pass at the end of the day. Just put yourself in the right position."
Practice-squad moves
The Vikings put practice squad quarterback Chandler Harnish, who has been with the team since Week 5, on injured reserve because of a Lisfranc foot injury and signed quarterback Pat Devlin to the practice squad. They also signed tight end RaShaun Allen to the practice squad and released tight end Ryan Otten.
Delvin signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in 2011 but has not appeared in a regular-season game. Allen signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks this season and appeared in one game.
Etc.
• Zimmer said tight end Kyle Rudolph is expected to participate at Tuesday's practice during individual drills. He isn't sure yet if Rudolph will return from sports hernia surgery in Week 11 against the Bears.
• The coaching staff will receive the weekend off during the bye. When asked how he'd spend the time off, Zimmer said, "I'm going to get away too, never get too far away. I usually take my iPad with me and probably sit by the fire and watch some of things I need to watch."
about the writer
Master Tesfatsion, Star Tribune
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.