Head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings broke his silence on the potential rift with defensive coordinator Brian Flores following the team’s overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The game, which took place on December 16 and was broadcast on NFL Network, ended in a 27-24 victory for the Bengals. The final moments of the match revealed a tense situation between O’Connell and Flores.
The critical moment occurred after a failed quarterback sneak on third down in overtime. Despite this setback, the Vikings attempted the same tactic, known as the “tush push,” in a hurry-up fashion to gain the necessary yard for a chance at points. Unfortunately, the attempt fell short, allowing the Bengals to secure the victory with a field goal.
During the broadcast, Flores was seen rushing to O’Connell’s side, urging him to call a timeout before the unsuccessful fourth-down conversion. This on-air exchange fueled speculation about O’Connell’s decision-making under pressure. However, O’Connell addressed the chaos during a news conference on December 18, explaining that Flores’ counsel was related to confirming the spot of the ball, not the play call itself.
The controversy surrounding the play began with the first attempt at the “tush push.” The on-field officials marked the ball beyond the first-down marker, leading O’Connell to prepare for a new series. However, another official marked it behind the line, prompting replay officials to review the play. O’Connell was informed through his headset that officials in New York were examining the spot of the ball, which was ultimately confirmed to be short of the first-down marker.
Despite the poor results, O’Connell emphasized that he and Flores were in constant communication during the game. He clarified that Flores, a former head coach for the Miami Dolphins and a strong candidate for the upcoming hiring cycle, provided input on gameday and throughout the week.
Brian Flores telling Kevin O’Connell to called timeout right before the failed fourth-down attempt. #vikings
— Ali Siddiqui (@asiddiqui15) December 17, 2023
While the decision not to call a timeout may be justifiable, O’Connell’s choice of the hurry-up “tush push” call faced scrutiny. O’Connell defended the decision, stating that the intention behind using 11 personnel (three wide receivers) was to exploit the Bengals’ smaller defensive group. However, attempting the same play twice proved unsuccessful, with the Bengals’ defensive line stopping Nick Mullens short of a first down.
O’Connell acknowledged that he anticipated the Bengals exploiting a size advantage against center Garrett Bradbury, leading to the hurry-up call. Despite previous success with the sneak play and short-yardage situations, O’Connell took responsibility for the failed attempt, emphasizing the need to give his team the best chance for success in crucial moments.
In summary, the Vikings’ overtime loss to the Bengals brought attention to a potential rift between O’Connell and Flores. O’Connell clarified that Flores’ involvement was related to confirming the spot of the ball. The decision not to call a timeout and the questionable play call faced criticism, with O’Connell taking responsibility for the unsuccessful outcome.
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