first-round pass-rusher should be getting on the field. Then there is the trade deadline. Will the Vikings make a move? Will it be a big splash? A trade for a long-term answer at either DL or CB would be nice, but are those opportunities out there?
Offense After The Scripted Plays
The Minnesota offense comes out firing, looks great, and puts points on the board. Then, as the game progresses, it starts to struggle more and more. It’s becoming a weekly sight, and it points to the Vikings being good on the scripted plays at the start of the game but failing to adjust as they get into the game. The stats back that theory up.
So what’s the problem? Why does the Vikings offense fall off so badly after the first 15 plays? It could simply be a case of Sam Darnold struggling outside of the scripted plays and his limitations showing up. In this case, Kevin O’Connell needs to be able to keep his quarterback more comfortable for longer. It’s not been terrible all the time outside of the first 15 plays, and there have been mitigating circumstances at times. Like the Aaron Jones injury against the Jets and the Christian Darrisaw injury against the Rams.
 warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/darnoldcool.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=621,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/darnoldcool.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/darnoldcool.jpg” alt><figcaption> Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>Both injuries affected the Vikings badly; Darrisaw’s injury poses a massive problem. Injuries are a part of football that teams just have to deal with. Minnesota should welcome back TJ Hockenson in Week 9, which will be a timely boost to the offense. Another problem the offense is having is something that is plaguing the whole team, which brings us to our third and final concern.</p>
<h2>Endless Penalties</h2>
<p>Sloppy teams that shoot themselves in the foot with penalties don’t win games. The officials on Thursday night may not have covered themselves in glory, particularly with the <a href=)
missed facemask on Darnold that ended the game. However, they can’t be blamed for the continuous pre-snap penalties the Vikings conceded. Minnesota has conceded 28 penalties over the last three games, which is frankly ridiculous. The count for the season is at 54, with a cost of 390 yards.
The offense is the worst culprit with 31 penalties, putting themselves in a hole time and time again, particularly with the pre-snap penalties. The defense has generally been good this season, but the six penalties on Thursday were a season-high, taking the overall tally to 15. LA got numerous third-down conversions from penalty flags that were key to the game. Special teams aren’t immune either, notching up eight flags in seven games.
