In an offensive performance Sunday that resembled a UFC ground-and-pound attack far more than a Cirque du Soleil aerial show, the Vikings had at least two opportunities to stretch the field deep against Chicago. Both times, they failed to capitalize.
The first came with 6:39 left in the second quarter when Christian Ponder used play action and uncorked a long ball to Devin Aromashodu on a post.
Ponder, who had slipped away from Lance Briggs on a blitz, threw a pretty ball. Yet just a split second before the pass arrived, Aromashodu seemed to stumble. The ball hit him in the right shoulder and bounced away.
Instead of a 45-yard touchdown that would have given the Vikings a 21-0 lead, the play went into the box score as an incompletion.
With a slumping young quarterback and the NFL's least productive passing attack, that is exactly the kind of missed opportunity that drives Leslie Frazier crazy.
"That would have been a huge play for us on offense," Frazier said. "It would have really changed the complexion of the game in a lot of ways. We didn't connect."
Frazier is anticipating similar opportunities to be available this weekend in St. Louis with the Rams likely to install the only defensive philosophy that makes sense against the Vikings, marching safeties close to the line of scrimmage for run help and using their corners in press coverage outside.
"And we're going to need to hit some of those shots," Frazier said. "We need to complete and make a catch down the field to get people to loosen up. The challenge will be there again this week."
