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Ironically, it's probably the strongest unit of the Vikings that cost them Sunday's game against New Orleans.
The broad core of receivers that went through many times the first half of the season dropped the ball at the US Bank stadium – literally.
Adam Thielen scored seven catches for 103 yards and one touchdown, marking his eighth consecutive 100-yard match to start the season. A new NFL record to open a campaign and equalize the Calvin Johnson brand over the centuries. point in a season.
But it is also Thielen who made the decisive mistake. As the Vikings entered the red zone late in the first half of Sunday with a chance to increase two goals before the break, he escaped. The Saints did everything to return to the 33-yard line – an unsportsmanlike penalty from Laquon Treadwell brought the Saints closer to 15 yards – and New Orleans scored a touchdown two strokes later. Instead of the Vikings potentially leading 10 points in the half, it was 17-13 New Orleans.
"I'm going to think about this for a while," said Thielen. "I am disappointed in myself."
This is the type of error that easily overshadows important steps. What do you think of this new album, Adam?
"Not good," said Thielen. "I said that eight weeks in a row: 100 yards means nothing unless you win the game and help the team win, and I did not do it tonight."
Nor his partner in crime. Stefon Diggs had 10 passes for 119 yards and one point – it's not a bad stats line – but he was the main manager of the sixth Saints selection that allowed New Orleans to climb 27-13. in the middle of the third quarter.
Kirk Cousins rushed to his right and saw Diggs arrive in the middle of the field. Diggs' job is to keep going. That's where Cousins threw it. But Diggs saw the Cousins under duress and decided to stop to give Cousins a "relief".
This miscommunication likely resulted in the easiest interception return for a touchdown of the New Orleans defensive player's football career, P.J. Williams.
"It's all for me," said Diggs. "I was trying to relieve him. Instead, I should have just given him what I am responsible for doing. Instead of stopping, the guy had an easy choice, a touchdown. If we could get this game, the game might be different. It will break my head until we see them again. "
Diggs took "full responsibility" for the piece.
"(Cousins) did everything right," said Diggs. "Everything was on me."
Treadwell took full responsibility for unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the game which began with Thielen's fumble. He threw his helmet on the field, giving the Saints another 15 miles to touch the goal.
"It was something I did not do," said Treadwell. "It's an emotional game. I have to control my emotions, play better and use it in the field and not on the sidelines. "
Treadwell also did not pierce in a critical place. At the start of the third quarter, the Vikings went ahead for the 4th and 1st assists on their own 45-yard line. Cousins threw at Treadwell, hitting the receiver in his hands. But the Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore put the ball loose. Pass incomplete, the saints took possession of the ball. New Orleans turned the good position on the field into a placement.
It was a rare night for the Vikings receivers.
"I think what's interesting is that they've been so good, and you take for granted that they're human and that mistakes are happening," said Cousins. "But the big players really like playing with them. We have a very good cloakroom of good guys staying together and playing hard for each other, and it will be an important part of our story here in the last few games. "
Treadwell said the recipients are still motivated as a group, but this could be especially true this week.
"This one stings, because we left a lot of games [out there]Said Treadwell. "We dropped the team. We know it and we have to bounce back. "
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