Bryan wrote:Jay Z wrote:The West fumble came when the Vikings were already down 9-0. The Vikings were already in big trouble before that happened.
I don't disagree with anything you said. I think that if the Vikings went in to the half down 'only' 9-0, then started the 3rd quarter with their TD drive, then perhaps a 9-7 game leads KC to make a mistake at some point in the 2nd half. Or, perhaps, I am being too influenced by Clint Jones literally in tears screaming "Take it in, offense! Take it in! Take it in, baby!".
I rewatched the game. The first half is a slow motion butt kicking of the Vikings by the Chiefs.
The Vikings did get a couple of breaks. West fumbled at the end of another kickoff return, but it was blown dead. They effectively got a turnover when Bob Lee was roughed on a punt. They just had another 3 and out then.
The Vikings had a few nice plays. They had their most success in the game with passes up the middle. When Kapp tried bombs, Washington and Grim were blanketed. Kapp made a nice pass to Beasley up the middle on their first drive of the game. There are some nice defensive plays. Winston leapt over a blocker to make a sack on the Chiefs first possession. Marshall had a sack. Krause's interception of a deep Dawson pass was well played.
On the negative, Brown and Osborn could not evade the Chiefs' linebackers at all on outside plays. Ed Sharockman, who was starting for the Vikings because Bobby Bryant was hurt, was taken advantage of by Frank Pitts. The Vikings did not cope well with the speed of Taylor, Pitts, Mike Garrett. Plus, the defense never got off the field at all. The Chiefs moved the ball on every single possession. I think you have to assume that if West hangs onto that kickoff, the Vikings still have another 3 and out and the Chiefs come down and kick another field goal, which makes it 12-0. Even after the fumble, the Vikings had chances to stop the Chiefs. Marshall got a sack on 1st down, so it's 2nd and 18, and the Chiefs still get the 1st down. Garrett's TD came on 3rd and goal from the 5. The hole was a mile wide on a running play that close.
Even in the 2nd half, the Chiefs got out to midfield on their 1st possession. So by the time the Vikings have their 2nd, it's already the 4th quarter. The Vikings are more lively in the 2nd half, but it was too late.