EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Vikings have been in prime position to seize a playoff place having a strong finish lower this closing stretch of daunting games.
Within their first test, they dropped the ball.
A great deal.
The Vikings (6-5) emerged from an unpleasant 28-10 loss at Chicago still tied with Dallas and Polk Bay for that second NFC wild card place, but they have lost to each of individuals teams and therefore must finish in front of them. Losing towards the Bears (8-3) on Sunday place a large dent in Minnesota's purpose of becoming the surprise champion from the NFC North, too, departing the Vikings in third place with little margin for error remaining.
They play at Eco-friendly Bay (7-4) this Sunday and Chicago again a few days next, with top-level performances needed to win. And when they cannot catch Christian Ponder's passes, well, the development through the relaxation from the team may not even matter.
Drops aren't the official National football league statistic, but anybody who viewed the Bears game could've cautiously credited their devices with a minimum of six, including three for Jerome Simpson.
"The amount of dropped passes we'd yesterday really was unacceptable within our league,'' stated coach Leslie Frazier, whose critique of his gamers is generally limited and moderate. "It's difficult to carry on drives whenever you don't catch the football, and that is part of what you need to have the ability to do like a wide receiver within our league.
"The drops weren't good. They hurt our continuity, our capability to move the football. So there exists a large amount of try to do. A great deal to have completed. I've got a lot to complete to obtain we back, refocused around the task at hands with this next pastime.''
Ponder had his share of erratic throws, including one which sailed past Stephen Burton to have an interception that Chicago adopted having a touchdown around the next play. He finished 22 for 43 and again had little success using the deep ball. But his devices did him no favors, with star Percy Harvin in Minnesota still healing from the sprained left ankle.
"It's difficult. You need to see everyone making plays and adding,'' wide receiver Michael Jenkinssaid. "My own mail to decrease a ball and have a poor play. Men have to recover making the next.''
Frazier stated he could not recall a game title because of so many drops by his team.
"We'll return and perform some drills and perform some various things to try and help our men to carry onto the football,'' he stated, adding: "Whenever your teammates see individuals possibilities disappear, it affects the whole team. It affects the men around the area, affects the men around the sideline.''
Adrian Billings lost a fumble, too, that directly brought to some Chicago touchdown, and also the defense can't escape blame, either. The very first half would be a collective failure, having a nonexistent pass hurry and a lot of productive runs through the Bears on third-and-short. For that mid-day, they converted 11 of 19 third downs.
Chicago was coming off a 32-7 loss at Bay Area last Monday, permitting six days. However with a brief week of preparation, the sting of this across the country public shellacking along with a slew of injuries on their own offense regardless of the return of quarterback Jay Cutler, the Bears were not discouraged.
The Vikings will face a Packers team this Sunday under similar conditions. Aaron Rodgers has had more sacks than every other quarterback within the National football league, and they are coming off a 38-10 loss towards the New You are able to Titans.
"It's really quite simple. The Bears performed much better than we did. Things that went wrong are totally correctable. The Bears game is behind us now. The tape's done,'' center John Sullivan stated. "We are centered on heading out and beating the Packers.''
NOTES: Frazier stated he spoken with Billings about his absence in the team bus in the hotel towards the stadium, forcing him to consider a cab and arrive late. The coach rejected to be precise regarding their conversation or any punishment planned, but he stated he "can't understand why it would'' happen again. "Whenever your leaders isn't where he's said to be, it isn't good. I am talking about, I speak with we constantly about being where you are said to be and being where you are said to be promptly. Therefore it is a large deal,'' Frazier stated. ... Geoff Schwartz required more button snaps (36) at RG the very first time this year than Brandon Fusco (30), that has began all the games. Frazier stated Fusco has battled together with his work and obstructing mechanics. "When he's on, he's an excellent player. But you will find moments where he's just tiny bit removed from a simple perspective,'' Frazier stated.
