From ‘Wow’ to ‘Whew’ as Vikings Outlast Packers

I’ve been a Vikings fan all my life, 42 now, and that was just ugly. Way too many flashbacks to past collapses. In fact, that we did not keep the foot on the gas and played much too conservative in the second half, too much prevent defense, too much running and attempts to burn the clock instead of acting like we were down by 3 with 2 minutes left at all times, is just unforgiveable.

I’m terrified we’ll look back on that second half as the moment other teams figured out the Flores defense and find ourselves collapsing more.

So please, please, put the pedal to the metal, stop holding back. A TD or at least possession is worth far more than a bit of burned time! I thought we had the killer instinct after Week 1 and 3, but this game makes me think it is gone, and we’re turning into the same old Vikings I’ve seen all my life.

Still, glad we pulled the win. SKOL! Let’s go show the Jets and A-Rod a bad time!

— Eric from Fargo, North Dakota!

Well, 4-0, but I’m not impressed the way we called defense in second half, giving up 300 yards and 4 TDs — not good. Our team is built for putting the pedal down, and not time management. Our defense is made for blitzing 70 percent because our cornerbacks can do their job for a long enough time!! I really hope we learned that today. We got Rodgers next in England. Let’s see how we respond. Skol.

We fought through self-inflicted adversity to get out of Green Bay with a win! Never an easy task to do! Congrats players & coaches! But when will we ever learn to stay aggressive with a lead?! Do NOT implement a conservative game plan with a big lead! “Pedal to the metal” to the end! A lesson that I hope both O’Connell and Brian Flores learned today in Green Bay!

— Randy in Las Vegas, Nevada

I love that there’s a reference of “pedal to the metal” coming from North Dakota, Alaska and Nevada in one mailbag. Messages received.

I guess it will come down to whether the second half was part of Flores’ original game plan or a shift in approach to try to avoid explosive plays, which still wound up happening.

Minnesota did total four takeaways, which were needed and important.

I do think the Vikings were aggressive on the 17-yard pass to Jefferson immediately after the sack fumble, but I wonder if the defense wishes it had dialed up a couple more blitzes in the second half.