Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
The Vikings started Sunday's game auspiciously with a pick on their first offensive snap, and things deteriorated quite mightily late in the second quarter en route to a 40-23 loss, but there was an opportunity as the first period shifted to the second to regain a footing against the Falcons.
After having 10 net yards and a turnover on its first seven plays of the game, Minnesota closed the first quarter with a 36-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Irv Smith, Jr., that moved the ball to the Atlanta 40-yard line.
The gain was followed with a 1-yard run by Alexander Mattison and consecutive completions of 19 yards to Adam Thielen and 18 more to Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota appeared poised to cut into Atlanta's 10-0 lead, needing to gain just 2 yards to reach the purple end zone or kick a short field goal with mild disappointment.
Neither occurred, and the Vikings remained scoreless until the third quarter, when they got the first of two touchdown catches by Justin Jefferson to make it a 23-7 game with 6:25 left in the third quarter.
Failure to execute at the goal line took away Minnesota's opportunity to reshape the game much earlier. Here's another look at that critical sequence.