The Minnesota Vikings’ trip to take on the Detroit Lions was a sour one. The Vikings missed out on securing the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the conference and will now have to go on the road for Wild Card Weekend.
It was the first time two teams in NFL history faced off in the regular season, with both having 14+ wins. Yet, it wasn’t much of a contest, with the Lions dominating, primarily in the second half.
Losing 31-9 was naturally going to invite some criticism. However, this time, it came from wide receiver Jordan Addison’s father. Rolando Addison Sr. made his frustrations towards head coach Kevin O’Connell known following Minnesota’s lopsided loss.
Jordan Addison’s Father Lashes Out at Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
Jordan Addison had only one reception for zero yards against the Lions. His father was so disappointed with the whole squad that he expected them to do pushups on the flight on their way back.
“6 targets 1 reception 0 yards. I want pushups the plane ride back nonstop. The defense needs to do them with you for allowing Gibbs to get 4 touchdowns. Also KOC can do them with ya because he got out coached,” Rolando Addison wrote on X.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold probably had the worst game of the season, along with the rest of the offense as well as the defense. Darnold couldn’t seem to complete his usual passes and didn’t throw to a wide-open Addison on 4th-and-goal early in the third quarter.
Minnesota managed to reach the red zone four times but couldn’t convert it into a touchdown even once, with Will Reichard’s three field goals totaling the team’s score.
As the elder Addison pointed out, Lions RB Jahymr Gibbs crushed the Vikings’ defense, totaling four touchdowns on the night.
Following the loss, the Vikings will now play a Wild Card game on the road next week against the Los Angeles Rams.
O’Connell on the Vikings’ Disappointing Week 18 Loss
O’Connell faced the media after a humiliating loss in the season finale. He probably knows if this is how they play in the postseason, it won’t be long before they will have to pack their bags. O’Connell analyzed the game and accepted that some mistakes were made.
“We did have some ball-out kind of plays where that were effective; at least moving it between the 20s and things like that. But once again, this came down to our ability to put seven on the board in the first half and take advantage of a short-field turnover, take advantage of getting the ball on the 50-yard line,” he said.
O’Connell also said that his side should have converted a few touchdowns.
“You’ve got to turn those things into some real points against a team like that. You know, if we’re kicking field goals all day against that offense, you know it’s just we’re going to have to score some touchdowns eventually to give ourselves a chance to win,” O’Connell added.