Alan Williams isn't big on moral victories. So while the Vikings have been solid defensively the last two weeks in Chicago and Green Bay, the defensive coordinator points to only one thing: the Vikings still lost.
"Still not good enough," Williams said. "They still scored too many points."
The Bears and Packers combined to convert 57 percent of their third downs (20-for-35). Connected with that, the Vikings' defense has also been chewed up by lengthy, draining, time-consuming drives. In Week 12 in Chicago, the Vikings allowed a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.
Last week, the Packers ran 11 minutes off the clock to open the fourth quarter, marching 73 yards in 17 plays before Mason Crosby kicked a game-sealing 31-yard field goal. There were no major defensive breakdowns on that series. But there were no big plays either."
"It's one guy here, one guy there, not getting our job done, not taking care of our assignments," Williams explained. "It builds up and when you have a team like that, if you don't take care of your assignment on every play, they'll make you pay."
One thing at a time
Williams believes his players have fallen into the trap too often this season of "trying to do more than their supposed to." That's again been a point of emphasis this week as the Vikings attempt to shore things up for Sunday's game with Chicago.
"The preaching point, the sticking point is if you do your job, that will be plenty good enough to win a ball game and to get off the field series after series," Williams said.