The Vikings have re-entered playoff contention this season, but the team lost a very important game against the Buccaneers in Week 14.
To make matters worse, Tampa Bay didn’t exactly rout Minnesota. The Vikings very well could have won that game — if it wasn’t for their special teams.
Kicker Dan Bailey missed three field goals and one extra point, en route to a 26-14 loss on Sunday.
Yes, yes, if Bailey hit all his kicks and the Buccaneers still score 26, the Vikings lose. But the field position battle is important. It’s within the realm of possibility that Tampa Bay would have scored less than 26 points had Bailey made his kicks.
Despite the recent misses, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer is backing his kicker, saying he has a lot of confidence in Bailey.
“He’s kicked good this week. I talked to him a couple times this week about certain things,” Zimmer said, via Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune. “He’s a very even-keeled guy that has a history of being a terrific kicker in this league.”
Bailey has now had two games in a row where he missed important field goals. Against the Jaguars, he missed what would have been a potential game-winner. He also went 1-3 on extra points. The Vikings will hope he bounces back, but if he doesn’t, he might cost them an awful lot in regards to postseason chances.
