Vikings starting to look up,but too late in the season.

by poohty_t | 8 years ago | 0 Comments

 

 

The Vikings come into week 15 looking to keep their best winning streak of the season up . Having won 2 of last 4 , they wanted to make it 3 of last 5. Facing a tough opponent coach Tizel has never beat before, and going into Cincinnati was going to be extra tough. 

 

While the game was close in the first quarter.The Bengals opening drive looked very strong as they marched down the field.However that tough Vikings defense showed up and stopped them on the 1 yard line on 3rd down with a great read and tackle by FS Sherman Gaiter , so the Bengals had to settle for a FG. The Vikings then had a 3 and out and did not start off great on offense. However their defense kept the Bengals from scoring again and forced a punt.Then the Vikings drove down , and on a 15 yard run HB Meyer put the jukes on two players to run in un touched to put the Vikings up  7- 3 to end the first quarter. 

 

The second quarter the Bengals could not get going and on a punt , HB Meyer made them pay with a good juke move and a free lane to the endzone to go up 14-3. The Vikings defense held up again ,and got the ball back for the offense. Which drove down the field in two plays. The first a hb screen to Rheem for 35 yard scramble. Then a 23 yard pass to WR Kelsheem Ellsworth , for his first catch and td of the season. This put the Vikings up 21-3. The Benglas then answer back and drive down and get a FG. Then their defense stops the Vikings on a 3 and out to get the ball back just before halftime.On a mircale play, Wilson tosses up a 50 yard pass as time expired in the half to WR Tyler Boyd to finish out the quarter on a 10 on run making it 21-13 the Bengals were right back in it with that lucky play.

Then the Bengals came out of the half stopping the Vikings , and getting the ball back, it felt like the momentum was shifting to their side finally. However, then on a forced passed to a coverd WR Tull, Wilson's favorite target, CB Alexnader knocks the ball out of his hands to it pops up to fall in the very aware hands of CB Diamond Culver, who returned it 15 yards for a TD. This put the Vikings up 28-13. The Bengals did manage a FG before the end of the third quarter, but both defenses dominated the entire 3rd quarter of this game. 

The fourth quarter  was no different, both defenses dominated it .On a botched WR screen to WR Tull , the Vikings CB Alexander read the play and caused the WR to bobble the ball up in the air and backwards, where he catch the ball and his momentum carried him backwards as he stumbled while catching the ball, to lose 13 yards on the play. LE  Thomas had by the 4th quarter wore down the offensive line, and racked up 3 sacks in the 4th. The Vikings did mange a fg in the 4th to go up 31- 16. Also FB Dane Ofenheusle , who rarely sees the ball, took the two opportunities he had with the ball to run over people and shuve players to the ground, showing his toughness in fighting for every single yard he could gain. On on pass, he literally threw two defenders off him with one hand , making them look like rag dolls, before finally being brought down by 2 Bengals after gaining 20 yards. 

 

We talked to Tizel after the game who says he is proud of his team for fighting so hard against a very good oppenent on their home field. "Look this season has been tough for us.Most guys would have given up a long time ago on the season, but not these guys. They are fighters and will until the last whistle in week 17. Since out bye week in week 8, we have faced 5 teams in the top 15 teams in the league , and we have won 4 and lost 3. Two of those loses were both only 3 points. We have faced very good opponents. We had a bad off game against the Cards but the others we won or was right there at the end of the game. This team, despite our record, has competed hard aginst good opponents all season long. 7 of our 9 losses have been within a touchdown. Only two games we had off nights and were not in the games. While our record looks bad, i look back and see alot of progress of this team starting to gel with its new parts. That is promising for next year. We just needed a break here or there and our record could easily be 11-2 . I feel like we are finally getting this team where we have invisioned it since i came to Minnesota.Hopefully with our 10 picks in the next draft, we can either draft or trade for a few more pieces and make this team really compete next year. We just have to win those close games. We face a very good opponent next week in the 49ers. It will be tough to win, but you can bet, these guys will be giving it all they have."

 

With just two games left on the season, the Vikings still hope at least 1 win this season takes someone out of the playoffs. Other than that, they are just building their confidence going into the offseason to get a good momentum built for next year.