Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell after 0-3 start: ‘I believe in this team’
Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell expressed disappointment about his team on Monday as they lead the NFL in turnovers while starting the season 0-3.
O’Connell mentioned in a news conference that they would find a solution for their poor NFL record.
“Either guys are going to [fix] it or we’re going to have to put other guys in the game that have ball security,” O’Connell said.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins also threw two interceptions, including one at the goal line and another in the end zone. It ended the Vikings’ last possession in their 28-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
“Looking back on it, I just should’ve clocked it and taken the three snaps from there (the 9-yard line) to try to punch the ball in the end zone.”
Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings coach
Last week, O’Connell changed practice routines to address the problem, incorporating new drills and using equipment acquired online to simulate contact for ball carriers. In the game against the Chargers, tight end T.J. Hockenson lost the ball during the Vikings’ first possession.
Meanwhile, RB Alexander Mattison had one lost fumble, but officials overturned it because they thought his forward progress had stopped. He also lost the ball after another run, but they ruled he was down by contact before losing it.
In a previous Week 2 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Mattison also lost two fumbles, with one being reversed due to an Eagles penalty.
Noisy crowd affects the game, Cousins says
Cousins faced fan criticism on Sunday as his final two drives failed to score points. He orchestrated a 13-play, 73-yard effort in that game, beginning with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Vikings turned the ball over on downs with an incomplete pass on 4th-and-2 from the Chargers’ 2-yard line.
The Vikings had one more opportunity to advance down the field and secure a victory. However, their 7-play, 18-yard drive concluded with an interception by Kenneth Murray.
During the drive, Cousins experienced difficulty hearing the play call with only 29 seconds left on the clock. After completing a short pass to T.J. Hockenson for a first down, instead of stopping the clock by spiking the ball, he attempted a tight pass to Hockenson. Yet, the pass was tipped and ended up in Murray’s hands.
The quarterback was questioned about not spiking the ball. He explained that he couldn’t hear the plays due to the noise.
“I just couldn’t hear him, and the noise,” Cousins said. “Just ended up calling a play, and it was the same play he was trying to get to.”
