The most predictable sack in Vikings history — coach Kevin O'Connell whacking defensive coordinator Ed Donatell on Thursday — came four days after a one-and-done home playoff upset and two days before the NFL kicks off four divisional games featuring five of the top seven scoring defenses and some of the league's hottest head coaching candidates from that side of the ball.
"We weren't good enough," O'Connell said Wednesday while tiptoeing past the guillotine everyone knew he would soon drop on Donatell's one-year Vikings stint.
No, Kevin, you weren't good enough. Otherwise, your squad wouldn't be the only one of six playoff teams seeded 1-3 to be sitting home this weekend. And you wouldn't be looking for a defensive coordinator to overhaul a sitting-duck scheme that couldn't create pressure, was comically loose in coverage and contributed mightily to the 31st-ranked unit allowing 30 or more points six times and 400 or more yards 10 times.
The only concern now is whether the guy (O'Connell) who whiffed so badly on that hire learned enough to pick the right guy this time around. A look at the teams still playing shows the urgency to find a defensive leader to not only establish a fresh, malleable scheme but also know which of the many new players he'll need to make it all work fast and furiously rather than a step slow.
The divisional round games — featuring eight quarterbacks all under the age of 30 with 29-year-old Dak Prescott being the old guy — begin Saturday afternoon with the AFC's No. 4 Jaguars (10-8) at the No. 1 Chiefs (14-3). The No. 6 Giants, 10-7-1 after bouncing the Vikings 31-24, play at the No. 1 Eagles (14-3) at Saturday night. Sunday, the AFC's No. 3 Bengals (13-4) play at the No. 2 Bills (14-3), and the NFC's No. 5 Cowboys (13-5) play at the No. 2 49ers (14-4).
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Let's rank the eight defenses and their coordinators:
8. Giants
First-year Giants coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, 59, runs a defense that ranks 25th in yards and 17th in scoring. It isn't great, but it sure outperformed Donatell's group Sunday.
While the Vikings were permitting less-than-elite QB Daniel Jones to become the first player in NFL playoff history with at least 300 yards passing (301), two touchdown passes (two) and 70 yards rushing (78), the Giants were slamming the door on unanimous first-team All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson caught one ball for 4 yards in the third quarter and wasn't even targeted in the fourth quarter.