So there's Bad Sam.....

[purplefaithful]

Agreed. You can’t go to a run game that is getting two yards a carry. So Sam had a bad day.  If he has a bad day and we win I’m fine with that. We’ll get healthy over the next couple weeks and bring back a Pro Bowl TE.  That will just give us more weapons.  The Jets have a good defense and this was totally a possible letdown game today.

bingo at the bold...

Even though its early in the year, this was much more a must win for them then us. Especially with all the Rogers is back hype. 

Not excusing everything our players and coaches didnt do right, but things were off kilter, we lose Jones (pack fans going "see, we told yah")
and we still won. 

Get rested and prep for your biggest game to-date two weeks from now.

[Vikergirl]

They had 30 rushing attempts. They had 66 plays. How much less passing would you like them to do?

They needed to mix it up more. There were unsuccessful drives that were just pass. They needed to adjust without Jones. The line blocking changes between running backs. There were several stalled drives. And I know the Jets defense is good but the Vikings needed to change it up. It didn't have to be deep shot after deep shot especially when Sam's accuracy was off.

[MAD GAINZ]

They needed to mix it up more. There were unsuccessful drives that were just pass. They needed to adjust without Jones. The line blocking changes between running backs. There were several stalled drives. And I know the Jets defense is good but the Vikings needed to change it up. It didn't have to be deep shot after deep shot especially when Sam's accuracy was off.

What if the play calls had shorter options and Sam decided to push it down field?  How is that on KOC?  Honestly, I'd rather have Darnold in attack mode.  He was off today.  Big deal.  Not sure why we're throwing shade at KOC?

[TheWinterSKOLdier]

Agreed. You can’t go to a run game that is getting two yards a carry. So Sam had a bad day.  If he has a bad day and we win I’m fine with that. We’ll get healthy over the next couple weeks and bring back a Pro Bowl TE.  That will just give us more weapons.  The Jets have a good defense and this was totally a possible letdown game today.

Agreed. Everyone has a bad game here and there. Darnold had one yesterday against a very good defense. Good time for a bye. Get TJ back soon and let's roll.

[StickierBuns]

Very important and impressive to get to 5-0: gives Minnesota some fudge room on making the playoffs. Not sure if they'll need it or not, have played tough teams already. I don't see a smoke and mirrors team....at all. Don't see a team to fear in the NFC.

But the national media is ready! Ian Rappaport already with the headline; "is the magic running out for the 5-0 Vikings"?

[MaroonBells]

Sam wasn't very good in this one. But IMO the two best corners in the NFL play on the same team. That's going to make for a difficult game for any QB facing the Jets.

Jefferson and Addison weren't getting their typical separation. But I liked how we kept going after them to draw the DPIs. A little surprised we didn't adjust better and throw more to Nailor, Powell and Mundt underneath. I think KOC wanted to stay aggressive and not let the Jets dictate what his offense was going to do. Maybe a little too much though.

The play call for Mullens fresh off the bench was ballsy.

[pattersaur]

Sam wasn't very good in this one. But IMO the two best corners in the NFL play on the same team. That's going to make for a difficult game for any QB facing the Jets.

Jefferson and Addison weren't getting their typical separation. But I liked how we kept going after them to draw the DPIs. A little surprised we didn't adjust better and throw more to Nailor, Powell and Mundt underneath. I think KOC wanted to stay aggressive and not let the Jets dictate what his offense was going to do. Maybe a little too much though. 

The play call for Mullens fresh off the bench was ballsy.

Agreed with all of this.

I thought Addison played poorly and the coaches did a poor job scheming him touches. And that was our number 2 target! Things were even worse for the rest of the crew, who got mostly ignored.

Darnold was not seeing the field well and wasn't spreading the ball around. I know the Jets have a great defense but in the second half I can't remember a single gain that felt like it came "easy". Tough sledding to the max. God bless Reichard and Van Ginkel for pitching in.

[badgervike]

Agreed. Everyone has a bad game here and there. Darnold had one yesterday against a very good defense. Good time for a bye. Get TJ back soon and let's roll.

I think having TJ back along with Jones would have made a big difference yesterday.  We could have exploited their coverage weakness with their linebackers.  Jones was exploiting holes with his power and is a legitimate receiving threat as is TJ.  We became one dimensional yesterday which played to the Jets strength.

[purplefaithful]

Yup, having Mullens throw (let alone downfield) was about as ballsy as it gets!

Dude coming off cold off the bench and KOC calls that play

WTF and lol!

[MAD GAINZ]

Yup, having Mullens throw (let alone downfield) was about as ballsy as it gets!

Dude coming off cold off the bench and KOC calls that play

WTF and lol!

It was ballsy, but it was actually a smart play call.  We all know Mullens loves to sling the rock and most teams will go conservative in that situation and run the football or go for an easy completion (screen or dump off to a check down). Jets were likely expecting to that. We fooled them and if Mullens makes a better throw, it's 7 pts.