Vikings HC explains failed 'tush push' plays in OT loss to Bengals
Despite the Minnesota Vikings blowing a 14-point second-half lead in a 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Saturday, much of the focus was on the play-calling late of head coach Kevin O'Connell and the team's inability to gain a few inches several times with the game on the line.
Needing only a field goal to win, tied 24-24 in the extra session, the Vikings turned the football over on downs after failing on two consecutive "tush push" attempts nearing kicker Greg Joesph's range, ultimately costing them the game. Following the loss, O'Connell tried to explain his line of thinking.
"You're looking at about four or five inches there — don't really want to have to turn around and extend the ball and hand off another ball," O'Connell said, via the Vikings' X account. "I trust our guys in that moment to execute."
The Vikings had a golden opportunity to walk away winners even when a 17-3 second-half advantage went up in smoke. After the Minnesota defense forced a three-and-out to start OT, the Vikings had the football across midfield, facing a third-and-inches from the Cincinnati 42-yard line.
The first attempt by QB Nick Mullens to sneak for the first down got snuffed out by the Bengals defense. However, instead of running something different on fourth down, O'Connell called the same play with similar results.
The calls themselves are worthy of criticism, especially since they failed on an attempt during regulation, as well. However, using 5-foot-8, 181-pound wideout Brandon Powell as the tush pusher left many scratching their head.
"I wanted to stay in 11 personnel to try and keep them out of goal-line defense or anything like that and thought we could execute just with some interior push right there," O'Connell said.
O'Connell's response to using Powell might make sense, but it looks like all he did was outsmart himself after the fact.
For weeks, many have urged the Vikings to utilize running back Ty Chandler more. Finally, on Saturday, he got a heavy dose of action, rushing for 132 yards (5.7 YPC) off 23 carries with a touchdown. Although, with the result possibly in the balance, Chandler remained on the sidelines while the Vikings' fourth QB and the team's smallest receiver pushed not once but twice unsuccessfully for a few mere inches.
Saturday's loss will sting for a while, as it also puts a significant dent in the Vikings' playoff chances. Now, at 7-7, they could see themselves on the outside looking in at a postseason spot by the end of Week 15.
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