This is the third time that O’Connell has done that this season, doing so after losses against the Las Vegas Raiders and Lions. Each time he did, O’Connell announced the starting quarterback mid week.
Who will be the starter against the Lions? That remains to be seen, as all three quarterbacks have merit to get the start. Mullens looks to be the best option to get the win, Dobbs is a major changeup that could give a spark to the offense and Hall would be the choice if you want to keep learning about what he could be in the future.
That answer will come in time but don’t expect it quite yet.
Judd Zulgad writes about Kirk Cousins going shirtless and the Vikings potentially giving them the shirt off their backs
Kirk Cousins’ value to the Minnesota Vikings continued to skyrocket on Sunday night and all he did was remove his shirt and sound the Gjallarhorn before the game to the delight of fans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
What followed Cousins’ literal flex high above the field was the reason why he very well could be back in Minnesota on his terms — and those terms don’t figure to be overly team-friendly.
The Vikings’ embarrassing 33-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers gave Jaren Hall his second opportunity of the season to start at quarterback, following the benching of Nick Mullens.
Mullens had been benched after consecutive losses to Cincinnati and Detroit in which he threw six picks. Mullens had replaced Josh Dobbs, who played in five games (four starts) before he was benched during a 3-0 victory in Las Vegas.
Hall had gotten off to a strong start in his Nov. 5 start in Atlanta — the game after Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles’ injury in Green Bay — but he suffered a concussion in the first quarter after completing 5-of-6 passes for 78 yards and scrambling for 11 yards on two carries.
But given the opportunity to prove he could be more responsible with the football than Dobbs and Mullens, Hall looked as lost as the rest of them. Calling it a debacle would be kind. Hall completed 5-of-10 passes for 67 yards but also threw an interception and lost a fumble on a sack as the Packers took a 23-3 lead entering halftime.
The fans who had cheered Cousins booed the Vikings off the field, and Hall was benched for Mullens in the second half.
Cousins might have felt bad for his teammates, but the savvy negotiator has to know he’s in a prime position to cash in again. Mullens and Dobbs have no future in Minnesota and Hall showed he isn’t near being ready to start. So either the Vikings will draft a quarterback in the first round, or they will bring back Cousins on a two- or three-year deal that won’t be cheap.
The guess here is the Vikings will go with the latter over the former.
After watching Vikings coach and chief play-caller Kevin O’Connell operate without Cousins for the past eight games, it’s clear his stated desire to retain Cousins isn’t just lip service.
Cousins might not have shown improvement in certain statistical categories last season in leading the Vikings to 13 wins, but it was clear he and O’Connell were on the same page more often than not. That continued this season as Cousins posted impressive stats, despite the fact the Vikings started 1-4. Minnesota had improved to 4-4 with a victory against the Packers in the game in which Cousins was injured.
The winning streak eventually grew to five before everything came crashing down. Sunday’s loss was the Vikings’ third in a row and fifth in the past six games, giving them an opportunity to get a Top 10 pick in the NFL draft this spring with a loss in the regular-season finale next Sunday in Detroit.
That could put them in a position to grab a quarterback in the opening round, but here’s the issue: If the Vikings are planning to be competitive next season — and this team has never shown a willingness to take a step back for future success — it likely means they will retain Cousins and then draft defensive help in the first round. Especially if defensive end Danielle Hunter is allowed to leave in free agency because Cousins and wide receiver Justin Jefferson both receive rich contract extensions this offseason.
Cousins will turn 36 next August, will be entering his 13th season and coming off a significant injury. It’s uncertain how much quality play Cousins has left. But what is certain is Cousins’ absence has given the Vikings a greater appreciation for what they had in him and it’s likely that will be enough to keep him in purple.
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast atwww.skornorth.com.
Jaren Hall had some mature things to say about Kevin O’Connell benching him on Sunday night.
The Minnesota Vikings have been in a bind ever since they lost quarterback Kirk Cousins. They have started four quarterbacks so far in the 2023 season and each of them have had at least two starts.
Jaren Hall got his second start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night and he was pulled after a poor performance in the first half. After the game, Hall spoke to the media and had a very mature response to his benching.
“If I was coach, I’d make the same decision.”
It’s difficult to fault head coach Kevin O’Connell for the decision. Hall turned the ball over two times and threw for just 67 yards on 5-of-10 passing. The rookie from BYU was a fifth-round draft pick and showed that he wasn’t ready for the spot.3
Now, it wasn’t all on him. The entire team didn’t play well and it started with the head coach. The Vikings have just one more game to right the ship before going into the offseason, as they need a ton of help to make the playoffs.
Nothing went right for the Vikings on either side of the ball, as the Packers embarrass them at U.S. Bank Stadium
The final game of the 2023 calendar year is a brutal one for the Minnesota Vikings, as they get slaughtered by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 33-10.
There was some excitement for rookie quarterback Jaren Hall getting his second start of the year, especially after he looked capable in his two drives as a starter against the Atlanta Falcons. Well, things didn’t go well at all.
Hall committed two turnovers against the Packers, completing just 5-of-10 passes for 67 yards, one interception and a strip sack that the Packers turned into seven points right before halftime.
The Vikings ended up making a change to start the second half to Nick Mullens but things didn’t get too much better. The Vikings drove down the field but turned it over on downs in the red zone before seeing the Packers drive down 91 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown.
The defense totally collapsed in another big moment on Sunday night. They allowed a depleted Packers receiving corps missing their top option and two of their top four to torch the secondary consistently with in-breaking routes. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores didn’t look to be making many adjustments to the defense, as the same issues kept coming to the forefront.
As painful as it feels, the Packers deserve a lot of credit. Jordan Love completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns while making some great throws in the process.
With the loss, the Vikings will need a lot of help in order to make the playoffs. It will start with a victory over the Detroit Lions next Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. CST.
Jaren Hall’s night is done at quarterback, as the Vikings replaced him with Nick Mullens
The Minnesota Vikings have made another change at quarterback. To start the second half, the Vikings have replaced Jaren Hall with Nick Mullens.
It was a rough second start for Hall, who was pulverized in the pocket consistently. He threw just 10 passes and completed five of them for 67 yards and an interception. Hall was also strip-sacked toward the end of the second quarter when Christian Darrisaw was blown up by Preston Smith.
Things didn’t go well for Hall who seemed a little tentative under center against an undermanned Green Bay Packers secondary. He wasn’t seeing things well and it all manifested in an awful performance.
The Vikings started the second half down 23-3 with their playoff hopes on the line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers pull out the win against the Seattle Seahawks. The Minnesota Vikings now hold their playoff fate in their hands once again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 30-23. With this win, the Minnesota Vikings once again control their destiny again when it comes to the playoff race.
With a win tonight against the Green Bay Packers and another win next week at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions, the Vikings will clinch their spot in the 2023 NFL playoffs.
The Vikings have had a windy, difficult road to the playoffs as they have been battling life without starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, as he left in week eight with a torn Achilles. With three different starters at quarterback, including a rookie (Jaren Hall) and a veteran forced into the game after only five days to study the playbook (Josh Dobbs), this team has had to face significant adversity to get to this point.
Now, their playoff destiny lies in their own hands, with two all-too-familiar opponents in front of them. Minnesota needed help, and they got it. Now it’s time for them to finish the job.
The Vikings might have a field day on Sunday night
In another blow to the Green Bay Packers ahead of their Sunday night game against their NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that the team will be without cornerback Eric Stokes for the game. Stokes is missing the pivotal matchup due to a hamstring injury.
Packers ruled out CB Eric Stokes for Sunday night’s game vs. the Vikings due to a hamstring injury. Packers now down Stokes and Jaire Alexander, who was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
The Packers are already missing their other top cornerback, Jaire Alexander, for the game due to a suspension. Alexander was suspended earlier this week due to “conduct detrimental to the team” after a number of incidents, including declaring himself a captain and going out for the coin toss in last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
With the Packers missing their top two cornerbacks going into a crucial game, it should bode well for the Vikings’ passing attack, led by Justin Jefferson and rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison. It should also make life a little easier for rookie quarterback Jaren Hall, making just his second start in the NFL this week.
Minnesota needs to win each of their remaining two games and get some help to make the playoffs, and this news certainly makes that at least a little more likely.
The Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers at 7:20 p.m. CST in primetime on Sunday Night Football. The winner gets to sleep peacefully, knowing that they have one more week to make a push for the playoffs. The loser goes home and likely eliminated from contention..
Green Bay’s defense under Joe Barry has been an uninspiring unit. They’re 17th in points allowed, 25th in EPA allowed/play and 30th in defensive DVOA. There has not been much to celebrate. This unit has been one of the more disappointing in the league.
The Vikings are not doing enough to win on the offensive side. They are scoring, averaging just over 24 points a game since Kirk Cousins has been out, but they can’t finish the job. Most of that is because of the lack of consistency at the position.
Josh Dobbs gave the performance of his life for six quarters. After that, he turns into a pumpkin for three straight games, including a game after the bye week. Nick Mullens gave it his best effort, and while the ball was moving, he didn’t perform at the level necessary to keep his job.
Now Minnesota turns to Jaren Hall, the only quarterback with a starting record above .500, to try to spark this offense to the playoffs.
Can he do it? He has the capabilities. He and the rest of this Minnesota offense must follow these four keys to success.
Our staff at Vikings Wire previewed and predicted Sunday night’s border battle
The Minnesota Vikings are a fascinating team to watch the last two weeks of the regular season.
Sitting at 7-8, they no longer control their own destiny for the playoffs, but they are still very much alive for a wild card spot after a 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.
That game also saw multiple season-ending injuries, as both tight end T.J. Hockenson and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum suffered season-ending injuries and were placed on injured reserve earlier this week.
Heading into Sunday night’s pivotal matchup, our staff previewed and predicted the NFC North rivalry game.
It’s do or die time for the Vikings. Minnesota’s defense has to follow these four keys if they want to win on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
This is their last chance.
The Minnesota Vikings get one more chance to salvage their playoff chances as they face the Green Bay Packers in U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday Night Football at 7:20 p.m. CST.
Minnesota has a chance to atone for dropping the past two with a good performance against a surging Green Bay team.
After starting 3-6 this season, the Packers have found a way back into the playoff conversation, and it’s been behind the play of their offense.
Since their meeting in week eight, Green Bay’s offense has been fourth in EPA/play, sixth in success rate, third in EPA/dropback and tenth in EPA/rush. Jordan Love has come into his own as a passer. He’s sixth in Adjusted net yards per pass attempt, second in passing yards (2095) and third in passing touchdowns (16) in that span.
On the other hand, Minnesota has been in a bit of a slump after their improbable 3-0 win against the Raiders at the beginning of the month. In the last two weeks, they have allowed 57 points, more than the four games before them combined. They’ve allowed the fourth-most EPA/play and are third-worst in success rate.
This defense must follow these four keys to success to get back on track and keep their playoff hopes alive.
