After Failed 4th-Down Play in OT, Vikings Urged to Fire….

After the Minnesota Vikings’ overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, December 16, the overreactions started to come in quickly.

Maker of Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy was first to the take that the establishment ought to “fire everyone,” beginning probably with lead trainer Kevin O’Connell, for a bombed endeavor at a fourth-down transformation that eventually brought about Minnesota’s loss.
Portnoy wrote on X, “If you’re the Vikings for this, you have to fire everyone.”

Kevin O’Connell Explains Decision to Run QB Nick Mullens on Vikings’ Final 2 Offensive Plays

The play in question came on the Vikings’ first and only drive of overtime after the team forced the Bengals to punt in the extra period.

On third down from the Cincinnati 42-yard line, Minnesota ran its version of the “brotherly shove” or “tush push,” a play that the Philadelphia Eagles made popular this season. The Vikings’ quarterback Nick Mullens was stopped in his tracks by the Bengals’ defense, forcing a fourth-down play with less than one yard to gain.

O’Connell kept the offense on the field and decided to run similar make light of on fourth, which Cincinnati likewise stuffed, bringing about a turnover on downs. O’Connell made sense of the reasoning behind his choice during a public interview following the game.
O’Connell stated, “Really looking at about 4-5 inches there.” Try not to truly need to need to pivot and expand the ball and hand off. I trust our folks at that time to execute.”

O’Connell’s faith was misplaced in this particular circumstance. However, Mullens and the Minnesota offensive line aren’t always to blame for everything. On the play, O’Connell picked wide receiver Brandon Powell over a bigger player like fullback CJ Ham to be the “pusher” behind Mullens. The technique wasn’t viable.

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, “O’Connell said Brandon Powell was the ‘pusher’ because he decided to use 11 personnel (3WR/1RB/1TE) in an effort to keep the Bengals out of a goal-line type of front.”
Media individuals likewise examined O’Connell concerning why he didn’t utilize a break following the third-down play to permit additional opportunity for a survey. O’Connell said a ref let him know the group had previously directed a survey and that the spot of the football had been affirmed.

No Chance Vikings Fire Kevin O’Connell After Loss to Bengals

Minnesota’s loss on Saturday was painful, but it was a far cry from a death blow to the team’s playoff chances and certainly isn’t cause to fire O’Connell or anyone else on the staff — even offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who police arrested for DWI one week ago ahead of the Vikings’ matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The team entered Week 15 with a record of 7-6 and possession of the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture. Five teams, including the division rival Green Bay Packers, were one game back of the Vikings at 6-7.

Minnesota’s greatest disadvantage down the final three weeks of the year is that it must play the division-leading Detroit Lions twice, with a matchup against the up-and-coming Packers sandwiched in between those contests. But even if the Vikings fail to make the postseason, it is difficult to impugn the job O’Connell has done amid a mountain of adversity this season.

The team started 1-4 and lost multiple games that it probably should have won because of bad luck with turnovers. After wide receiver Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the next seven games, the Vikings went on a five-game winning streak to regain their position above.500.

After starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Packers in Week 8, Minnesota won its final two games without him. On Saturday, Mullens became the fourth Vikings quarterback to start a game this season.

O’Connell has led the Minnesota Vikings to a home playoff game last season, which they lost to the New York Giants, and has a regular-season record of 20-11 in his first two years in charge.