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Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels called it “sickening” to walk off the field Sunday after his group allowed a 56-yard kickoff return by Chicago returner Devin Duvernay to help set up the Bears’ game-winning field goal.
“I’ve been in the league now eight years, played football a long time in this league, and I have never felt the way I felt after that football game,” Daniels said Tuesday. “You’d just rather get beat a different way.”
A large part of Daniels’ frustration stemmed from the fact the Vikings had practiced that exact return leading up to the game, but guys tried to make big plays instead of sticking to their assigned roles.
In the locker room postgame Sunday, first-year outside linebacker Tyler Batty explained that at least two teammates were supposed to be in the lane between him and Tavierre Thomas that Duvernay slipped through on the field side to make his return in Chicago’s 19-17 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“It really boils down to this: We live in a world where attention spans are very, very short and are shortening,” Daniels said. “There’s a belief of wanting this instant gratification, and everyone wants to be the guy that makes the play. ... The 10 guys covering are basically thinking, ‘[I’m going to] be the guy that makes the play.’ As a result, we lose discipline in our lane coverage, and as a result the ball winds back to the field, and there’s the explosive that comes with it.
“Not every single play is yours to make. As long as you do your job, the plays will come to you. Simple as that.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spoke in a similar regard about the play Monday, saying the desire to win sometimes beats out “the discipline of what is my job on the play.”
The Vikings have allowed an average of 26.6 yards per kickoff return this season. Before Sunday, they had given up only one return of 40-plus yards. That was also against the Bears in Week 1, when wide receiver Luther Burden III returned a kick at the end of the first half 44 yards.
Vikings opponents this season have started only six drives beyond their own 35-yard line off 43 kick returns.
Daniels noted that the Vikings were in a similar situation in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns in London.
The Vikings had just taken a 21-17 lead when Will Reichard kicked off with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game. The Vikings allowed only a 26-yard return, and the Vikings won after two futile deep ball attempts by Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
The difference this time around, Daniels said, was “guys got greedy out there.” Though he said he understands to a degree, he again pressed the need for discipline.
Daniels said he does not anticipate any personnel changes on kickoff returns yet, but that could be reassessed if problems persist.
“Young players have to learn through the fire,” Daniels said. “Sometimes you’re gonna get burnt, and obviously we got burnt in that situation.”
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