2. Will the real third-down defense please stand up?
Big jump to go straight from Aretha to Eminem, but Minnesota’s third-down defense is an area to keep an eye on and could help determine the outcome.
The Vikings limited the Packers to 3-for-9 on third downs (and 0-for-2 on fourth downs, by the way) to force stops throughout Week 1.
Minnesota, however, allowed the Eagles to go 7-for-13 on third downs and didn’t force Philadelphia into a fourth down.
A third-and-13 that the Eagles picked up with a 19-yard pass on their opening drive set the tone.
In the second quarter, Jalen Hurts rushed for a 26-yard touchdown on third-and-2.
Philadelphia also converted a third-and-6 with 28 seconds left in the first half with a 16-yard pass to set up a field goal.
To be fair, Minnesota’s offense has room for improvement on the money down, as well.
The Vikings went 4-for-13 in Week 1 and 4-for-12 Monday for a combined 32-percent success rate on the season that ranks tied for 23rd in the NFL.
3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Except for the rookies, Monday’s loss wasn’t an NFL first for anyone in Minnesota’s locker room.
At various points, everyone else has had the experience of dusting off a bad outing, going back to the film study and fixing mistakes.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell seems to be an optimist in every situation we’ve seen so far. He’s also a pragmatist and realist, but the optimism could help lift Minnesota’s spirits as it tries to catch up in a short week.
That’s the tie-in to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
“Baby” is referred to as the “goal” before the vow of “If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there on the double.”
It worked in Remember the Titans. Why not for the first taste of adversity for the 2022 Vikings?
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