Vikings still trying to solve third-quarter dilemma

The third quarter has been a first-class disaster for the 2011 Vikings.

Physically, mentally, emotionally, schematically and, well, you name it, it's been the weekly 15-minute window from which the life of a hopeful season was sucked away and buried four games -- and counting -- beneath the nearest NFC North opponent.

It started from the get-go when the Vikings became the first team in NFL history to blow three consecutive double-digit halftime leads to open a season. And it hasn't gotten a whole lot better during what has become a 2-7 free-fall heading into Sunday's game against the Raiders (5-4) at Mall of America Field.

Through Week 10, the Vikings have been outscored by a league-high 64 points in the third quarter. They have allowed an NFL-high 91 points, while the rest of the league -- including four teams that had played an extra game -- had given up an average of 41.7 third-quarter points.

Offensively, the Vikings' 27 third-quarter points rank 29th. They have scored on only five of 21 possessions (23.8 percent) while opponents have countered with 17 scores in 24 possessions (70.1).

It was enough of a concern that coach Leslie Frazier made it a significant part of the team's annual self- scouting process during the bye two weeks ago.

"And based on [Monday night], you would think it didn't help us a whole lot in what we did in our self-scout," said Frazier, referring to the 45-7 loss at Green Bay.

"We have some other games to play, and we will see how things go going forward," Frazier said. "But we do think we have identified some things that might be able to help us."

The drives that logically would appear to be most affected by halftime coaching adjustments are each team's first drive. On those nine drives, the Vikings have averaged 16 yards with six punts, one touchdown, a field goal and a fumble. Meanwhile, Vikings opponents have averaged 49 yards with six touchdowns, two punts and a fumble.

Frazier and his coordinators, Fred Pagac on defense and Bill Musgrave on offense, insist that teams aren't making significant adjustments from the first half, where the Vikings are outscoring opponents 123-89.

Musgrave was asked if the third-quarter woes are simply the unfortunate byproduct of the 4 1/2-month lockout and having a new offense run by a new coordinator and a rookie quarterback.

"I think it's part of the process," Musgrave said. "Most recently, we've done better in the second half but still not good enough, so it's something that we want to address each and every week and continue to play a full 60-minute game. When we can get to that stage, then we can become the team we all envision."

The overall third-quarter numbers within the division -- where the Vikings are 0-4 despite halftime leads against the Lions and Packers at home -- are even more alarming. The Lions, Bears and Packers have outscored the Vikings by 40 points (54-14) in the third quarter and 36 points in the other three quarters combined (89-53).

The Vikings have scored twice in 12 third-quarter possessions within the division. Meanwhile, the Lions, Bears and Packers have scored 10 times in 11 possessions, including six touchdowns.

Frazier indicated that fingers shouldn't be pointed in any one particular direction when it comes to players vs. coaches.

"It still comes back to not only calling a certain play on offense or doing something a little bit different on defense, you still have to execute every opportunity that you get," Frazier said. "If you don't execute, it really doesn't matter what you call or what you do. We have to do a better job of executing and we need to continue to look at what we're doing schematically to try to help ourselves."

The Vikings have been outscored in the third quarter in eight of nine games and tied Carolina 7-7 in the other. Although they are no longer setting records for second-half collapses, they have still been outscored 64-27 in the third quarter since Week 3.