Vikings Coach Ashamed by Penalty Blunder Against Ravens
In a recent game, the Minnesota Vikings faced a disappointing 27-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, largely attributed to eight false start penalties. Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips expressed his embarrassment regarding the team’s performance during a press conference.
Vikings’ Penalty Problems
Phillips identified the penalties as a significant issue that contributed to their defeat. “That’s losing football,” he stated, emphasizing that mistakes in the turnover battle and pre-snap penalties are detrimental to the team’s success. He cited the team’s commitment to rectifying these issues in future games.
Impact of False Starts
Out of the eight penalties, five occurred on first down, placing the Vikings in challenging positions. Below is a summary of each false start:
- Blake Brandel: On a third drive, his penalty changed a 3rd-and-8 to a 3rd-and-13, leading to a field goal.
- Brian O’Neill: Commited a false start on first down, resulting in a 1st-and-15 and an interception two plays later.
- Ben Yurosek: Another first down penalty forced the Vikings to go from a 1st-and-15 to a failed 4th-and-2 conversion.
- Christian Darrisaw: Late in the third quarter, this penalty led to three incomplete passes, resulting in a field goal attempt.
- Justin Jefferson: His flinch in the fourth quarter pushed the team back to a 1st-and-15, though a subsequent pass interference negated some impact.
- J.J. McCarthy: This false start came while trailing by two touchdowns, creating another challenging 1st-and-15 scenario.
- Brian O’Neill: On a crucial 4th-and-5, a false start shifted the situation to a 4th-and-goal from the ten, yet resulted in a touchdown pass.
- Brian O’Neill: In the final moments of the game, a false start turned a 3rd-and-10 into a 3rd-and-11, leading to a turnover on downs.
Looking Ahead
In response to the mounting issues, Phillips indicated that the coaching staff has devised a plan to address the penalties. He remains optimistic the team can improve moving forward. The Vikings will have an opportunity to test this strategy in their upcoming game against the Chicago Bears, a crucial NFC North matchup.
