In the season finale against Detroit, where the Vikings’ chances of making the playoffs are limited, coach Kevin O’Connell chose not to reveal who would start as quarterback.
During Sunday’s game against the Packers, Kevin O’Connell, the head coach of the Vikings, and Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator, observed the sidelines.
Coach Kevin O’Connell stated on Monday, the day after the Vikings’ 33-10 loss to the Packers, that the team’s focus for their Sunday regular-season finale in Detroit will be on “getting that bad taste out of our mouth” in addition to chasing the few remaining playoff possibilities.
O’Connell was asked if the Vikings’ prospects of making the playoffs—3%, based on a calculation by The New York Times—would affect the judgments about starting and injured players’ playing time. He gave the impression that whoever is free will would perform.
“That’ll be determined throughout the week based upon how our guys are able to work through some of the injuries,” O’Connell stated. “But just for the purpose of going out, we still have a chance to make the postseason, even though it’s a slim one. However, I believe that what matters most to our team is clearing the bad taste left by a performance that we surely aren’t proud of and that falls short of our standards or expectations. Our troops should be prepared to return to the office and begin work this week, in my opinion.”
On Sunday, the Vikings must defeat the Lions and receive assistance. The Seahawks, Packers, and either the Saints or Buccaneers must all lose for them.
In order to avoid planning for the offseason, they also require a youthful locker room.
“Coming off the disappointment of that, I think that’s when you truly are tested in the moments like this,” said O’Connell.
Defending tackle Harrison Phillips shortly following the defeat began to preach that message.
“I don’t have any fears or any concerns that we’re going to have guys worried about the postseason or booking flights,” Phillips stated. “That’s not the locker room these guys built here.”
With a win and defeats by the Cowboys and Eagles, the Lions may still challenge for the NFC’s second spot. It was announced on Monday by Lions coach Dan Campbell that the Vikings will see the starting lineup.
“That’s the current plan,” Campbell informed reporters in Detroit.
Going back to Mullens now? or Dobbs?
As with his first NFL start, rookie quarterback Jaren Hall’s second one ended short, and it’s doubtful he’ll get a third on Sunday. However, because the players wouldn’t be meeting again until Tuesday, O’Connell wasn’t prepared to name the starting quarterback on Monday. Nick Mullens or Joshua Dobbs are the likely candidates.
Hall needs to understand that this isn’t a “period on the end of what we think” of him as a player, according to O’Connell. Before being benched at halftime, Hall completed 5 of 10 throws for 67 yards and made two mistakes in 24 plays.
“We were at ease offering Jaren a chance,” O’Connell stated. “I was certain that Jaren would give us an opportunity to play well and win, and that he would help us get off to a solid start so that we could build confidence, as many young players do. That simply isn’t the case.”
A little trash talk gets out of hand.
After the game, cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. briefly appeared on “Sunday Night Football” after getting into a fight with Packers receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who wasn’t in the game. Wicks shoved Booth, inadvertently striking Packers running back Aaron Jones in the face, while Booth and Wicks were sulking. Jones shoved Booth in response, and teammates were able to separate them.
“A little bit of trash talk,” Booth stated on Sunday evening. “Going back and forth after the game.”
Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Clemson, Booth has been utilized sporadically as the team’s fourth cornerback, behind Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, and Byron Murphy Jr. At the conclusion of Sunday’s defeat, he took eight pictures.
Booth remarked, “I’m just growing, planting seeds.” “Awaiting my chance. I’ll be prepared when that happens.”
The’revenge game’ of Thompson
Special team players like safety Theo Jackson and linebacker Troy Dye—who stopped an extra point against Detroit—were sidelined for the Vikings due to injuries. NaJee Thompson, the cornerback, came up with two big hits, one of which resulted in the lone touchdown for the Vikings early in the fourth quarter.
During a Vikings punt, Thompson sprinted downfield and hit Packers return man Samori Toure at the precise moment when Toure fumbled the catch. The ball was recovered by Thompson at the Packers 7. Mullens connected with tight end Johnny Mundt for a 6-yard touchdown two plays afterwards.
The Packers, Thompson claimed, have “aggressive returners,” and he was inspired after being benched by the coaches during the first encounter on October 29 at Lambeau Field.
“I knew our special teams would have a great opportunity,” Thompson stated. “This game was a revenge match for me because I was unable to play against the Packers earlier in the season. I thought about it all night long.”
