The Vikings offense has converted one second-half third down in two games.
One.
It came at the 9-minute, 58-second mark of the third quarter of the season-opening loss at San Diego when quarterback Donovan McNabb scrambled for 10 yards on third-and-7. Since then, the Vikings have gone 0-for-8 on second-half third downs.
That's an 11.1 percent success rate on nine third-down situations averaging 10 yards. That also explains why a run-oriented, ball-control offense has scored just three second-half points.
Meanwhile, not to be outdone in second-half frustration during this 0-2 start, the Vikings defense has allowed eight third-down conversions in the second half. Throw out the Chargers' kneel-down to end the game, and opponents have converted eight of 11 second-half third downs.
That's a 72.7 percent lack of success rate for the Vikings. That also explains why a defense that doesn't force a lot of turnovers has been bent and broken for 41 second-half points in losses that have included blown halftime leads of 17-7 and 17-0.
"We had some situations in the second half of both games where you can either make a first down or deny a first down that could have turned the game in our favor," coach Leslie Frazier said. "It's something that we have to get better at."
Offensively, McNabb is 0-for-5 passing and has been sacked twice on second- half third downs. Of course, it didn't help that penalties turned one third-and-3 into third-and-8 and another third-and-3 into third-and-18.