The Vikings owned a 13-point lead and the ball with just more than nine minutes to play against Arizona on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The offense was moving the ball, and the end of a four-game losing streak was in sight. Then the all-too-familiar woes of the offensive line stormed into the story line.
On the seventh play of the drive, quarterback Sam Bradford was hit from the right and nearly fumbled. Then the Cardinals attacked the even weaker left edge with speedy linebacker Chandler Jones, who beat tight end Kyle Rudolph and tackle T.J. Clemmings to hit Bradford from behind and force a fumble.
Arizona responded with a touchdown drive to pull within six points.
The Vikings defense secured the 30-24 victory, but Sunday's game again revealed the problems the Vikings need to address on the offensive line.
In addition to free agency, the Vikings will certainly consider using the 2017 NFL draft to solidify their offensive line and, more specifically, the left tackle position.
However, they've drafted only two offensive linemen — tackles Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt — in the first three rounds since 2007.
The Vikings gave up their first-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for quarterback Sam Bradford, so the elite options are likely out of reach.