Brian Flores Puts Vikings' Late Defensive Collapse Against Bengals on Him
What was the biggest reason why the Vikings blew a two-score lead in the fourth quarter in their painful loss to the Bengals on Saturday? Some will point to the failed quarterback sneaks in overtime. Some will point to Nick Mullens' two first-half interceptions in field goal range.
Ask Brian Flores or any Vikings defensive player that question, and they'll say it was the inability to stop the Bengals' offense down the stretch. One of the stingiest and most productive defenses in the NFL this season allowed Jake Browning and Cincinnati to go 75 yards on eight plays, 74 yards on 11 plays, and 75 yards on ten plays for three consecutive touchdown drives across the end of the third quarter and the entire fourth. Those drives were littered with big plays and third-down conversions.
Then, in overtime, the Vikings gave up one more big play on a third down that set up the Bengals' game-winning field goal.
"They certainly made some plays down the field on some things that were contested catches," Flores said this week. "I think down the stretch, especially in that end-of-game, two-minute, four-minute, that mode, we've gotta do a better job of finishing games. That's something I really take personal responsibility for. I've gotta coach it better, I gotta put our guys in better positions."
The Vikings allowed 24 of the Bengals' 27 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Some things came surprisingly easily for a Bengals offense that had been held to three points on its first five possessions. One of the plays that hurt the most was when, on the second touchdown drive, Browning hit Ja'Marr Chase for 24 yards to move the chains on third and 21. Five plays later, Joe Mixon plowed through Ivan Pace Jr. on fourth and goal to tie the game.
On the big play to Chase, the Vikings were in a zone look. The Bengals ran a dagger concept where Tee Higgins ran a go route and Chase came wide open on the dig route underneath it. That's a concept that has seemingly given the Vikings plenty of trouble this season.
"I think it's definitely a concept that shows up weekly," Flores said. "As a play-caller, there's things you can call to take that away. If you take that away, then you're giving up something else. Especially in those kind of situations, I've got to do a better job of putting our guys in position to take that one away."
There were other moments, like Pace's near-tackle against Mixon, that were just missed opportunities by the Vikings combined with good execution from the Bengals' best players. That was certainly the case on Higgins' highlight-reel touchdown reception to tie the game again with under a minute left. Akayleb Evans appeared to have an interception in his sights, but Higgins went up to get it and then spun to reach the ball across the pylon while rookie Mekhi Blackmon looked on in disbelief. Blackmon later apologized on social media for quitting on the play, saying he thought Evans had the pick.
For whatever reason, the Vikings' defense has struggled to maintain its high level of play into the fourth quarter in recent weeks, which is something they'll try to figure out heading into the season's final three games.
"(The) past however many games, defense had a chance to execute with the game on the line and we haven't done that," Josh Metellus said. "These next three weeks are all about executing when the team needs us most, and that's when it's winning time."
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