Inside The Vikings

Vikings Lose Another Heartbreaker Against Chargers, Fall to 0-3

The Vikings are now 0-3 in one-score games this season after another gut-wrenching defeat.

Will Ragatz

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Three weeks into the 2023 season, the Minnesota Vikings' playoff hopes are already on life support.

A chaotic ending to Sunday's game against the Chargers saw the ball continue to bounce in favor of the Vikings' opponents this year. With 12 seconds on the clock in a four-point game, Kirk Cousins' pass for T.J. Hockenson deflected into the air and into the arms of Kenneth Murray for a game-ending interception. In a crazy contest where both teams racked up exactly 475 yards of offense, the Chargers emerged victorious by a final score of 28-24.

This season continues to feel like cruel and unusual punishment from the football gods. The Vikings are now 0-3 with three consecutive one-score losses (by a total of 13 points) after going 11-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer during the 2022 regular season. They just can't catch any breaks.

Then again, it's hard to say the Vikings are 0-3 because they've been unlucky. They've done this to themselves — in many ways. They turned the ball over two more times in this game and gave up the go-ahead touchdown on a ball that should've been intercepted by Akayleb Evans. Twice, the Vikings had first and goal from the 3 and failed to score a touchdown. Cousins was hit 13 times and sacked four times on a day where the Vikings' offense went 4 for 14 on third down.

Cousins put up huge numbers again, throwing for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson — who caused the entire state of Minnesota to hold its breath when he left the game with apparent cramps late in the fourth quarter — had seven catches for 149 yards and his first score of the season, tying the all-time record for receiving yards by a player in the first three games of a season. Alexander Mattison had his best game of the season, racking up 125 yards from scrimmage. But when it mattered most, the Vikings struggled to execute and convert. Blame for that has to fall on both Kevin O'Connell and the players on the field.

Defensively, the Vikings allowed Justin Herbert to throw for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Herbert was phenomenal all game long. Keenan Allen had 18 catches for 215 yards and also threw a 49-yard touchdown to Mike Williams. That's how the Chargers managed 475 total yards while running for just 30 yards.

The Vikings' fumble woes continued to haunt them early in this game. A promising first offensive series ended in disaster when T.J. Hockenson had the ball ripped out of his hands by Chargers defensive back Alohi Gilman. Stunningly, it was the eighth turnover and seventh lost fumble for the Vikings in just over two games. The Chargers took full advantage, driving 79 yards to get on the board first with a touchdown.

Josh Oliver's first touchdown reception as a Viking tied the score in the second quarter. Minnesota then had to settle for a field goal despite having first and goal from the Chargers' 3, taking a 10-7 lead. The Chargers responded with Herbert finding Parham in the end zone for the second time in the half, giving Los Angeles a 14-10 lead at halftime.

In terms of drama and weirdness, things really kicked into high gear in the second half.

The Chargers used the Herbert-to-Allen-to-Williams double pass to take a 21-10 lead. The Vikings responded with long touchdown receptions from K.J. Osborn and Jefferson to go up 24-21. Evans then had an interception in his sights when the ball bounced through his hands and was secured by Joshua Palmer for what would be the game-winning score.

A few minutes later, the Vikings had 1st and goal from the 3 and failed to score on four attempts. They were gifted another opportunity when the Chargers went for the kill on 4th and 1 from their own 24 and failed to convert, but the deflected interception ended it.

The Vikings are now 0-3. Historically, teams don't recover from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs. This feels like a team with the talent to win plenty of games, but they may have already dug themselves a hole they won't be able to climb out of.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

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