Minnesota Vikings: Takeaways from disaster against Seahawks

What. A. Disaster.

The Minnesota Vikings came into Week 13 with an 8-3 record and the NFC North division lead. If they could beat the 6-5 Seattle Seahawks at home, they’d have a full game lead with four games remaining.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the Vikings got the memo about the game on Sunday because they didn’t show up. When it was all said and done, the Vikings lost 38-7. “Lost” is putting it very nicely. No, no, the Vikings were enormously humiliated. Maybe that’s more like it.

Absolutely nothing went right for Minnesota. First of all, Harrison Smith and Anthony Barr both left the game in the first quarter with injuries and didn’t return. Between those two and Linval Joseph already out, the Vikings were suddenly missing their top three players on defense and it showed. Nobody could tackle. Nobody could cover. In fact, I don’t think anybody wanted to tackle or cover.

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Yep, this team gave up on Mike Zimmer early. The Seahawks wanted it more from the beginning and when they got ahead, the Vikings just stopped trying. They didn’t want it.

Before I get into my takeaways, I’ll say this — the Vikings are still in a good spot to make the playoffs. They’re 8-4,  and now comfortably in a wild card position if the season ended today. However, they have two very difficult road games left and a couple sneaky-tough tests at home remaining. They’re not a lock to make the playoffs by any means.

Takeaways

— Adrian Peterson is the NFL’s leading rusher. He’s a phenomenal player, there’s no doubt about it. But he’s a hindrance to this offense and a hindrance to Teddy Bridgewater‘s development. Peterson’s inability to take handoffs from the pistol or the shotgun forces Norv Turner to scheme up an offense that plays away from Bridgewater’s strengths, which are quick passes out of the shotgun that let him get into a rhythm (see: second half of last season).

It has taken me way too long to realize this, but it’s the truth. Peterson either needs to buck up and figure out how to run the ball effectively from the pistol and/or shotgun, or this offense won’t get any better.

— This defense was flat out exposed yesterday by Russell Wilson. I was scared of his mobility all week long, and it caused problems for the Vikings all day long. Again, yes, they were without Smith, Barr and Joseph. But, I mean, come on. The secondary was absolutely shredded by Wilson. Additionally, I’ve never seen worse tackling from a group of professional football players before. Thomas Rawls looked like Barry freaking Sanders. But, I mean, I guess Carlos Hyde did in Week 1 too.

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— There were three players whose horribleness outshined the rest of the Vikings’ horribleness yesterday. Brandon Fusco at left guard, T.J. Clemmings and right tackle, and Antone Exum were all exceptionally poor at their respective jobs yesterday. For Fusco and Clemmings, it really has been the story all season long. Two traffic cones might be better than those two on the offensive line.

For Exum, this was just his second career start and he didn’t exactly give the coaching staff any reason to keep him as a starter.

— Chad Greenway was also really bad yesterday, but I’ll give him a little bit of a pass because a) Barr got hurt early and he didn’t expect to play as much as he did, and b) I have low expectations for him anyway.

— Cordarrelle Patterson recorded his second kick return for a touchdown this season on a beautiful 101-yarder. Of course, with his team down by 28 points, he has to start his high-stepping celebratory acts at the 30-yard line. Typical self-absorbed Cordarrelle. On another note, he’ll probably be a pro-bowler this season as a kick returner. So, yep, after this season, “two-time Pro Bowler Cordarrelle Patterson” will be a thing. A really weird thing.

— Danielle Hunter was another lone bright spot for the Vikings. And by bright spot, I mean just a tad bright than the complete darkness of everything else. It seemed like he was the guy forcing Wilson to scramble around the most, even though Wilson was able to get around Hunter most times. At least he got close, right?

Onward

The Minnesota Vikings won’t have too much time to recuperate as they head on the road for a Thursday night battle with the 10-2 and 2nd-seeded Arizona Cardinals this week.

Next: RECAP: Seahawks 38, Vikings 7

As long as I can find time among school work during finals week, I should have my weekly preview, prediction and keys to victory article up by Wednesday.

Continue to check in with Sporting Sota on the daily for any news and analysis on each of the Minnesota sports teams.