Vikings Must Learn to Finish Games to Take Next Step

In a throwback to 2013, the Minnesota Vikings managed to control a game for all but the final minute, losing in stunning fashion to the Buffalo Bills, 17-16.

All signs pointed to the Vikings pulling out a victory on the road until the fateful final drive. The defense was able to suffocate Kyle Orton and the Bills for the majority of the game. It all appeared as if the Mike Zimmer-led unit had taken another step forward in its growth.

Progress appeared in numerous ways. The defense created four turnovers, three of which were forced fumbles. It also put Orton under constant pressure.

Brian Hall of FoxSportsNorth.com provides some of the context:

"

#Vikings got 4 turnovers, six sacks on defense and ran for 158 yards against the NFL's best run-D and lost.

— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) October 19, 2014"

The Bills offensive line was obliterated on multiple plays by the Vikings’ usage of twists and timely blitzes. Sharrif Floyd and Everson Griffen terrorized the left side of the Buffalo offensive line. Brian Robison brought consistent pressure from the opposite side. Even Linval Joseph got in on the act, yanking down Orton for a fourth-quarter sack.

Rushing the passer was not an issue. Orton was left guessing all day due to immense pressure, and the Vikings rush finished the job and got sacks when its opportunities came.

Lack of stamina should not have become an issue. The Vikings offense won the time-of-possession battle, allowing the defense to get its rest on the sideline. For most of the game, the defense used that energy to shut down the Bills offense and make opportunistic plays.

Then came time for a stop to win the game. Minnesota’s coaching staff preaches the need to finish games strong in the fourth quarter, as Derek Wetmore of 1500 ESPN points out:

"

Mike Zimmer has a sign hanging in the team's practice facility that says "Tough teams win in the 4th quarter." #Vikings

— Derek Wetmore (@DerekWetmore) October 19, 2014"

Buffalo’s offense took possession on its own 20-yard line, needing a touchdown with 3:07 remaining. The Bills had only managed 10 points from 12 offensive drives.

Four big completions doomed the Vikings as Orton and the Bills marched down the field.

After a third-down sack, the Bills were forced into an almost impossible 4th-and-20. Instead of protecting the first-down line, Minnesota’s defense was caught with its pants down.

Chad Greenway was trying to communicate with the sideline and teammates as Orton took the snap. By the time the veteran linebacker snapped to awareness, Bills tight end Scott Chandler had run right past him for a 24-yard completion over the middle.

Minnesota was a play away from getting out of Buffalo with a much-needed victory but lapsed mentally.

Josh Robinson then over-thought his coverage on a big gain by Sammy Watkins. He let the rookie receiver beat him to the inside on a slant pattern in a 3rd-and-12 situation. In that moment, the cornerback cannot lose inside positioning. Robinson’s footwork and positioning was poor, allowing the Bills to move the chains again.

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

Then after an intentional grounding penalty came to Minnesota’s rescue, the Bills had 2nd-and-20 from the Vikings 30-yard line and only 25 seconds left. Orton heaved up a prayer toward the left pylon.

Minnesota had the matchup it needed. First-round cornerback Xavier Rhodes was singled up with undrafted receiver Chris Hogan. The unheralded receiver climbed over the tall, lanky cornerback to haul in a tremendous reception. Rhodes was unable to get his feet off the ground and make the crucial play in a big moment.

That set up Buffalo for a single play to win it from the 1-yard line with five seconds left on the clock.

Orton went back to the Watkins well, picking on Rhodes again. The rookie shook Rhodes with an out route. The cornerback was too passive in his playing of a route that had to develop quickly in a goal-line spot.

Individual letdowns on the final drive undid a game’s worth of good work for the Minnesota defense. Some solace can be taken from what was a positive showing from Minnesota overall, coming off an alarming home defeat in Week 6.

Zimmer, who is forthright in interviews, was not entirely discouraged by what his team showed in Buffalo, as told by VikingUpdate.com on Twitter:

"

Mike Zimmer said you never want to lose, but he found a lot of positives in the game. #Vikings

— VikingUpdate.com (@VikingUpdate) October 19, 2014"

The final takeaway will still come back to the game's final drive.

These high-pressure moments bring out the bad habits in players who lack full trust in their ability or full trust in the defensive scheme.  Final-drive situations like this require 100 percent focus, and the Vikings coaches didn’t get that from their players.

Buffalo was able to up its offensive tempo and pick on defenders who weren’t mentally tough enough to handle their assignments in the trying moments. This is another step Zimmer's defense will need to take in the future.

Vikings fans should be discouraged with Minnesota’s inability to finish a game like this. Scrapping for a difficult road win is an indication of a confident, tough team, as the sign that hangs in Winter Park says. The Vikings were not tough enough to finish today.

Statistics via ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.