Lions vs. Vikings: Why Leslie Frazier Should Be Fired

It’s three weeks into the season, and no coach in the National Football League is walking on shakier ground than Leslie Frazier of the Vikings.

Game 1 against the Chargers saw his troops take a 17-7 lead at the half, only to have San Diego shut Minnesota out in the second half en route to a 24-17 win.

Game 2 against the Buccaneers saw the Vikings jump out to a 17-0 lead at the half, then struggle to hold on in the second half. Still, the lead was 20-14 with 9:45 to play before this collapse hit, a 24-20 loss.

Enter Week 3 against the Lions. Detroit was down 20-0 to the Vikings at the half, but the Lions defense held the Minnesota offense to three second-half points, ultimately sending the Vikings to a 26-23 loss.

Three double-digit leads in the second half of the first three games of the season, and yet, Minnesota has an 0-3 record. If that doesn’t spell coaching change, then what does?

It’s not that the Vikings have no talent. The fact that they’ve outscored the opposition 54-7 in the first half suggests they’ve got some game.

But they have not shown the ability to add on points, and they absolutely haven’t shown the ability to come up with a big play with the game on the line.

And that’s all about the coach. Players do what they do, but it’s up to the man on the sidelines to set the agenda, and right now, the agenda doesn’t seem to have any room in it for clutch play.

There is a major sense of urgency in Minnesota, a franchise that doesn’t tolerate losing well. The last two defeats have come at home, and there are questions if 34-year-old Donovan McNabb is the leader the Vikings need.

But it starts at the top, and that’s Frazier.