"And then depression set in"

 

I was still pretty high after the loss to the Lions; They barely beat us and Hockenson hadn't played yet. I figured Hock would be back for the Rams game except he wasn't. Puka Nacua was unexpectedly ready to play for the Rams. Son of a ... Just the spark the struggling Rams Offense needed. Cashman was a no-go at LB; The Defence struggled again with him out. The pass rush struggled to get pressure. Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL. Uncle Sam nearly had his head ripped off on an uncalled Facemask Penalty in the endzone resulting in a game-sealing Safety for the Rams. Ridiculous! 

Oh, how the cruel winds of fate turned on my favorite team. Losing Darrisaw and the game basically assures that the Vikes will not be able to catch the Lions for the Division and the #1Seed. All my hopes and expectations went out the window with that loss. Losing one of the best Left Tackles in the NFL totally bites. How negatively will the running and passing game be affected? Right now, it's anybody's guess. 

Will the injury bug keep biting and bring down a once-promising season?

After the next three games, I think I will have a clearer grasp on where things are headed. Right, now things are muddied up. I think the picture is even darker for the Packers and their fate with a one-legged quarterback and the Lions coming to town this week.

4-0, Vikes Win At Lambert

 

The refs made this game closer than it was by not overturning the Darnold INT call. KOC needs to run more often. Addison is so fricken good, as is Jets and AJ. Who is going to beat this team? The Jags, SeaChickens, or Lions at home, maybe. I don't see this squad losing at home. This team is elite and the front-runner for the #1 Spot in the NFC.

Historical note: I was under the impression the impression that Hock would be back for the Lions game at home after the buy. Cashman got injured in London just before the bye. The Lions lost at home to Tampa Bay in Week 2. So, the Vikes led the Division at this point. I will always maintain that had Cashman and Hock been able to go, the Vikings wouldn't have lost that game at home to the Lions. Also, the Rams were not on my radar at this point. They only had one win vs. the 49er squad that got beat up by the Vikes in a heavyweight fight the previous week. I think both Kupp and Puka were out with injuries by this point. Unfortunately, they both returned for the Vikings game on Thursday Night after we had just lost to the Lions home in a slugfest. The Vikes didn't have Hock or Cashman for the game in LA, either. The LA game will be memorable for the dropped pass by Speedy Nailor at a key juncture and the uncalled facemask of Uncle Sam that resulted in Safety ruining any chance of Super Sam saving the day. Everything was working against the Vikes in LA. It was a very hard-luck loss    

Good Play, Just Used At The Wrong Time

 During the first drive of the game in Denver, the Vikes had the ball 4th and 1 yard-to-go near midfield. We elected to go for it. The ball was snapped to our TE Hock who was under center. Hock then pitched it to QB Tark 2.0 who ran outside to get the ball the ball was stripped, and took a vicious hit that wasn't flagged, but got the player suspended after the league looked at it. 

I really liked the idea of Hock under center, we should try it in the future with both a "Brotherly Shove" and a pitch out to a WR or RB Chandler.

I didn't care when KOC chose to use it. I think he should have waited until we were on the goal line or in the second half.

Three Vikings turnovers resulted in the team losing the game. We almost recovered a fumble MN LB Pace Jr. forced, but he didn't gain control until he was out of bounds on Denver's final drive. The Vikings losing the game wasn't the end of the world. The Packers beat the Lions on Thanksgiving, which I thought was a possibility. If the Vikings get back to winning this Monday night then everything gets back to being right with the world again. If the Vikings get beat by Da Bears, it isn't panic button time yet because we have the bye week next, the Sea Chickens are in free fall with a brutal schedule ahead, and the Packers play the Chiefs when we are on the bye. I can't wait for the Monday Night tilt. I think the Bears will play well, but the Vikes are at home and the better team. If we get those turnovers under control or force some, we should win. Jet may or may not be back.