Minnesota needed overtime to defeat Carolina on Sunday. The Vikings made mistakes in all phases of the game. And maybe the team’s most costly mishaps came on special teams.
For example: Vikings K Greg Joseph missed two field goals, one of which would have almost certainly won Minnesota the game in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Joseph did, however, hit three field goals and one extra point.
Mike Zimmer, a coach with a history of deriding his kickers after inconsistent games, came to the defense of Joseph in Week 6. Zimmer did something similar when Joseph missed the would-be game-winning kick in Week 2.
Here’s what he said this week:
“I don’t know. I’m not very patient,” Zimmer said. “That was a tough wind today. Kicking into that wind, I know those two were right on the edge, that he missed, I think. He’s done a good job. I don’t fault him for those.”
In overtime, Minnesota got the ball first, and QB Kirk Cousins found WR K.J. Osborn for the game-winning score. After he scored, Osborn made a callback to Stefon Diggs’ legendary celebration. I guess they didn’t need that kick after all.
