After Further Review: Fourth Downs Allowed by Vikings Loom Large

[Viktor]

The Vikings were incredibly effective at stopping the Seahawks on third downs but painfully struggled on both fourth downs they tried to defend.


Seattle, which went 0-for-7 on third downs, shifted to desperation mode with less than two minutes to go and needed completions on two fourth downs to eek-out a 27-26 Seahawks-style win.


The upset victory began slipping from the Vikings when Minnesota failed to convert a fourth-and-1 and gave the ball back to Seattle at its own 6-yard line with 1:57 remaining.


Q4, 1:21 remaining — Fourth-and-10 at the Seattle 23


After a 17-yard run by Russell Wilson opened the possession, the Vikings forced three consecutive incompletions.


The Seahawks utilize 11 personnel with running back Travis Homer and tight end Greg Olsen joining receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Freddie Swain on the field.


Minnesota is in its nickel package with rookie Jeff Gladney at corner and the linebacker tandem of Eric Kendricks and Eric Wilson.


Olsen starts out lined up on the right between Lockett and Swain but gets motioned in as Seattle opts to max-protect and only send the receivers on routes.


The Vikings line up with rookie Cameron Dantzler across from Metcalf and Mike Hughes across from Swain. Both corners are several yards off the line of scrimmage. Gladney is much closer to Lockett.


Wilson and Kendricks come down to the line of scrimmage for a Double-A-gap blitz, a hallmark of Head Coach Mike Zimmer.


Harrison Smith shows blitz but then backs out, and so does Wilson. Kendricks blitzes up the middle and Gladney does from the slot, passing responsibility for Lockett to a zone of Anthony Harris, Smith and Eric Wilson.


Seattle picks up the blitz (Homer deters Gladney with an effective block), and Russell Wilson is unperturbed in picking out his 1-on-1 matchup with his top receiver against Dantzler. (Smith doesn't have time to go help Dantzler with Metcalf).