ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky broke down the details surrounding the failed tush push that doomed the Minnesota Vikings in their 27-24 overtime loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
100% credit @Bengals for some triggers/tells on the final QB sneaks yesterday
The @Vikings (and every team) have to look at their mechanics for how they operate this pic.twitter.com/RBV5uvMgH7
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 17, 2023
Orlovsky was a quarterback in the NFL for 13 years before becoming the analyst we know today. He knows a thing or two about the quarterback sneak, and the Bengals deserve their kudos for making the Vikings play for their below-average execution on this play.
Orlovsky outlined the pre-snap movements that triggered the Bengals to prepare for the sneak. The motion of Brandon Powell behind quarterback Nick Mullens and Mullens’ step back to prepare to vault forward were prime indicators for the Bengals’ defensive tackles to jump the snap and beat the Vikings’ interior to the spot, rendering the sneak useless.
Football is a game of inches. It’s a game of minor details that, if executed, can make or break a game or even a season. Minnesota had a chance to close this game out. They were only a few yards away from field goal range and taking firm control of their playoff future. Instead, they sit at 7-7, adding to the logjam of teams battling for the final two NFC wild-card spots.