{"id":74583,"date":"2023-12-25T04:46:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T04:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/?p=74583"},"modified":"2023-12-25T04:46:21","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T04:46:21","slug":"vikings-oconnell-addresses-nick-mullens-status-after-4-int-loss-to-lions-kieu-linh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/vikings-oconnell-addresses-nick-mullens-status-after-4-int-loss-to-lions-kieu-linh\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings\u2019 O\u2019Connell Addresses Nick Mullens\u2019 Status After 4 INT Loss to Lions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For two weeks, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O\u2019Connell has urged quarterback Nick Mullens to play within the system and not force throws.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-1880108566-e1703459393315.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" alt=\"Nick Mullens\" \/><\/p>\n<p>No matter the message, the results remained the same on Sunday, December 24, against the Detroit Lions.<\/p>\n<p>A gunslinger at heart, Mullens threw for 411 yards passing and 4 interceptions, including a wobbling pass in the red zone that Lions defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off to halt a potential game-winning drive with 58 seconds on the clock.<\/p>\n<p>On his final throw, Mullens threw away the game, resulting in a 30-24 loss that allowed Detroit to seize the NFC North division title for the first time in 30 years.<\/p>\n<p>In two straight losses, Mullens has thrown six interceptions that have proved costly for a Vikings team that seems to play every opponent down to the wire.<\/p>\n<p>Holding a 25% chance at making the postseason with two games left in the season, O\u2019Connell signaled he would be going back to Mullens in Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll take a look at all those interceptions and try to coach Nick up,\u201d O\u2019Connell said in his postgame news conference. \u201cWhether it\u2019s decision-making, timing, accuracy trusting the decision and where we want the ball to end up, we\u2019ll take a look at all those things and adjust our game plan accordingly moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Kevin O\u2019Connell Addresses Playcalling in Loss to Lions<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-1845622784-e1702420890842.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Vikings offense has averaged 407 yards in Mullens\u2019 two starts, yet O\u2019Connell\u2019s playcalling has come into question.<\/p>\n<p>Against the Lions, the Vikings struggled to possess the ball due to struggles in the running game. They gained just 15 yards on 11 carries as O\u2019Connell opted to move the ball through the air \u2014 kickstarting the rollercoaster that is Mullens.<\/p>\n<p>The veteran backup moved the ball effectively, completing 22-of-36 pass attempts and converting 15 first downs. He averaged a whopping 9.3 yards per completion compared to Jared Goff\u2018s 6.0 yards per completion.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mullens pushed the ball downfield all game. His average attempt traveled 14.6 yards downfield, most by a Vikings QB since Brett Favre in 2010, per <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNStatsInfo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@ESPNStatsInfo<\/a>. He threw 18 passes of 15+ air yards, more than any QB in the past 2 seasons.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SeifertESPN\/status\/1739056713800515593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">December 24, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That disparity, along with the Lions running the ball 36 times for 143 yards, led to Detroit dominating time of possession 38:22 to 21:38.<\/p>\n<p>O\u2019Connell described his team\u2019s struggles running the ball and his decision to attack the middle of the field with Mullens, who was prone to hanging some throws on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re always going to do what we think is best to try and win the football game in the moment,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.<\/p>\n<h2>Vikings-Lions Was Minnesota\u2019s Season Summed Up<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/GettyImages-1880594351.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"D.J. Wonnum\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Vikings season could be summed up by Sunday\u2019s loss to the Lions. Turnovers, injuries and late-game drama have defined this season for a team that has no business being in the playoff conversation but continues to fight.<\/p>\n<p>And while there is frustration with Mullens, he has provided a high floor for an offense that scored just one touchdown in two weeks with Josh Dobbs. Backup quarterback play tends to be volatile, and Mullens at the very least has put points on the board.<\/p>\n<p>Brian Flores\u2019 defense has come back down to earth after carrying the team through its darkest hours without its two most valuable players Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson.<\/p>\n<p>But injuries continue to pile up with right tackle Brian O\u2019Neill and No. 1 cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. out this week. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, receiver Jordan Addison, linebacker D.J. Wonnum and cornerback Mekhi Blackmon also sustained significant injuries on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The Vikings\u2019 backs are against the wall as the depth of this roster continues to be tested during a turbulent, yet exciting year for the franchise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For two weeks, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O\u2019Connell has urged quarterback Nick Mullens to play within the system and not force throws. No matter the message, the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74583\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aweu.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}