The Vikings had their fan base excited for their season opener - a Monday night game against a bad 49ers team. The Vikings were terrible.

The Vikings elevated expectations for a showdown with the slumping Green Bay Packers at TCF Bank Stadium in November. Then got blown out.

The Vikings were 8-3 and contemplating playoff seedings when Seattle came to town on Sunday. The Vikings were no-shows in a lopsided loss.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer likes to turn his team's past failings into current motivations. Haven't won the road in the division? Most of us considered that to be a fact; Zimmer thought it was motivational material.

How about this one, Mike: Your team faints in big games. Or at least games that are perceived to be big.

Sunday's loss was embarrassing. I understand their issues - losing Linval Joseph, Harrison Smith and Anthony Barr robbed the Vikings of thier most important players at each level of the defense. But that doesn't excuse the offensive or special teams failures, or lack of competitiveness in the second half.

There is nothing wrong with being 8-4. But the way the Vikings reached 8-4 creates many doubts.

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This is our quick post-game reaction. I'll have a column on Teddy Bridgewater on the website later, and in the Monday paper.

Please check out my podcast network for more on the Vikings and other local teams. All the podcasts are at MalePatternPodcasts.com.

Thanks.

@Souhanstrib