The Minnesota Vikings are supposed to be a playoff team this season.

Last years 7-9 campaign was being blamed on COVID-19 and injuries.  The defense has been rebuilt, and all but two of Minnesota's expected starters in 2021 played yesterday in Cincinnati.  It didn't mater, same ol' Vikings.  Minnesota lost in overtime 27-24, despite a second half comeback, that had the Vikes down 21-7 at one point.

Minnesota took a ton of penalties on offense, including 4 of their first 8 plays.

"Talk about shooting yourself in the foot", said Mike Zimmer during the Vikings post game press conference.  According to USA Today, the Vikings took 12 penalties, including 10 in the first half.  They also had a handful of penalties that were declined.  Minnesota's offense line was especially to blame for the yellow flags littered all over the field.  Holding and false starts plagued the purple all afternoon.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins had a good game for Minnesota going 36 for 49 for 351 yards and two touchdowns.  However, the Vikings running game never got on track with it's star running back Dalvin Cook, mostly because of penalties.  It was Cook's fumble late in overtime that proved to be the final nail in the coffin in a game full of mistakes for the Vikings.  Minnesota was driving late in overtime in Bengals territory before the questionable fumble led the way to a 33 yard field for a Bengals win.

The Vikings will now go to Arizona next Sunday, who destroyed a pretty good Tennessee Titans team.  The Vikings have their home opener against Seattle the following Sunday.  Brutal upcoming schedule, that could have the Vikings winless for the foreseeable future.

All of the teams in the NFC North lost yesterday, including the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers were blown out by New Orleans and Aaron Rodgers suffered his worst deficit loss in his professional career.


 

 

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