With every opportunity to take a step closer to clinching a playoff berth, the Vikings laid a giant egg in a 21-7 loss to the Seahawks on Monday night.
Minnesota’s offense was held to 62 yards in the first half and they didn’t score until Kirk Cousins found Dalvin Cook for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:29 left in the game.
Most frustrating was the Vikings’ inability to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations. They had eight plays needing three yards or fewer on third down or goal-to-go situations and they converted just two of them, and none of the really important ones.
- 3rd-and-3: Cousins sacked.
- 3rd-and-2: Cousins incomplete pass.
- 3rd-and-1: Cousins QB sneak for a first down.
- 4th-and-1: Latavius Murray rush for no gain.
- 2nd-and-goal at the 2: Cousins incomplete pass.
- 3rd-and-goal at the 2: Dalvin Cook rush for 1 yard.
- 4th-and-goal at the 1: Cousins incomplete pass.
- 3rd-and-1: Cousins QB sneak for a first down.
Seattle led 3-0 at the half and 6-0 for most of the fourth quarter before a late rushing touchdown by Chris Carson and a fumble return for a touchdown with 2:29 left in the game.
.@JustinColeman27 takes it to the house! 🙌#GoHawks | #MINvsSEA pic.twitter.com/wSRWmyKuFu
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 11, 2018
Those touchdowns came after Dan Bailey had a field goal blocked by Seattle’s Bobby Wagner, who hopped over the long snapper and made a leaping block.
.@Bwagz comes through in the clutch! #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/zo0hKQXxik
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 11, 2018
Meanwhile, the Vikings’ defense was solid most of the night, limiting Russell Wilson to a career-low 72 passing yards.
The loss drops Minnesota to 6-6-1 on the season, which believe it or not is still good enough to control the last wild card in the NFC playoff race, but just percentage points ahead of Carolina, Philadelphia and Washington, all of whom are 6-7 – not to mention the Packers, who are just a game back at 5-7-1.
