Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell appears to have made a preliminary decision regarding the quarterback situation, despite the team’s recent 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
NFollowing a challenging game where the Bengals orchestrated a late comeback with 21 fourth-quarter points, O’Connell commended starting quarterback Nick Mullens, who rebounded from two first-half interceptions to throw for 303 yards and two touchdowns.
During his postgame news conference, O’Connell expressed his approval of Mullens’ performance and was asked about the likelihood of Mullens starting in the crucial Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
O’Connell initially affirmed the possibility but added a measured response, stating, “Yeah, I would—we’ll evaluate then, but he did a lot of good things today. I liked the feel of both our run game and pass game, and how (they were) working together.”
Despite Mullens’ two turnovers in the first half, O’Connell acknowledged his effectiveness in directing Minnesota’s offense. The Vikings amassed 424 yards of offense, the highest since Week 7 when Kirk Cousins threw for 358 yards in a win over the San Francisco 49ers. With Mullens at the helm, O’Connell structured the game to align more closely with the offense designed for Cousins, facilitating a productive running game led by second-year back Ty Chandler, who rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in his inaugural start.
While acknowledging Mullens’ contribution to bringing the team to overtime on the road, O’Connell conceded that the Vikings fell short in the end. Mullens, completing 26-of-33 pass attempts for two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 99.9 passer rating, delivered a commendable performance in Week 15. However, situational awareness became a crucial factor in the loss, with Mullens throwing interceptions inside the 25-yard line and having a pick-six nullified due to a defensive offsides penalty.
B.J. Hill makes one of the wildest big man INTs of the season!
📺: MINvsCIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/vtmfEKvOLy pic.twitter.com/qLCtwmwtQP— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2023
Despite Mullens’ solid showing, there are concerns about his suitability as a long-term starting quarterback. O’Connell urged Mullens to avoid “playing hero ball,” emphasizing the need for disciplined decision-making. Mullens, known for his gunslinger style, has a career interception rate of 3.6%, a potential concern for the team. His response to a questionable second-quarter interception indicated a desire to dispose of the ball under pressure, highlighting the challenge of tempering his natural tendencies.
As the Vikings face critical decisions regarding their quarterback position, O’Connell’s task will be to guide Mullens in a manner that aligns with the team’s goals and minimizes risk, acknowledging both the positive aspects of his play and the areas that require improvement.
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