Vikings fans excited to escape the Brad Childress era were horrified to learn that this year’s offense looked even more predictable, at least for the season opener.
The team ran the ball 15 out of 19 times on first down, including five of six times in the second half. The Chargers crowded the line of scrimmage, but the Vikings never adjusted.
“They were stacking the line of scrimmage,” coach Leslie Frazier said. “When that happens, you’ve got to take advantage down the field.”
The Vikings barely ever tried. They threw one deep pass all day. Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune notes Donovan McNabb didn’t complete a pass to a tight end. In the second half, the team had 26 total yards on 17 plays.
McNabb took most of the criticism, but Mark Craig believed the offensive line was the team’s biggest problem.
“Well, for one week, particularly one half of one week, the offensive line at least bordered on train-wreck bad. . . . The pass protection was horrendous, even when the Vikings went to max protect,” Craig wrote.
Adrian Peterson said on PFT Live that he was well aware how strong the NFC North looked going into the season. After the Lions, Packers, and Bears swept three NFC South teams, the division looks even better.
Minnesota needs to be less predictable on offense quickly or the Vikings will get left behind.