The Vikings lost their fourth straight game because of a faulty kicker, a diminished pass rush, the lack of a running game and a struggling offensive line. The longer the streak becomes, the more evident its causes.
Blair Walsh's missed extra point didn't play a major role in the final outcome but provided another reminder of his struggles, and the Vikings came back from a 14-0 deficit only to lose 26-20, their final drive coming apart with a sack deep in Washington territory.
Jake Long left the field late in the game with an injury, leaving the Vikings' line further decimated.
The Vikings are 5-4, and have lost consecutive winnable games against teams with which they will be competing for the playoffs.
For the first time in Mike Zimmer's tenure, his program does not look to be on the rise. Instead, he is facing the kind of midseason collapse that ruined Mike Tice's tenure.
JIM SOUHAN
