Enemy Reaction 2019: Minnesota Vikings

I thought I was going to have a pretty straightforward Enemy Reaction; not a lot happened in the 1st half, the game was trending towards blowout in the 2nd half, and then the Seattle Seahawks inevitably let the Minnesota Vikings back into the game. Then I was worried that there wouldn’t even be an Enemy Reaction. The defense did its job late, the offense burned up almost all of the clock, and we can celebrate a 10-2 record and 1st place in the NFC West.

But no celebration is complete without Enemy Reaction! This one is a doozy because not only do we have the Vikings fans from Daily Norseman, there are plenty of appearances from pissed off San Francisco 49ers fans over at Niners Nation. I had to leave a lot of over-the-top stuff on the cutting room floor, but there’s plenty of gold to be shared.

Here we go!

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Dalvin Cook scores on two-yard toss (7-0 MIN)

Chris Carson answers from a yard out (7-7)

Anthony Harris gets a bizarre pick-six (14-7 MIN)

...Niners Nation liked that!

Rashaad Penny ties the game up again (17-17)

Dalvin Cook fumbles, Seahawks recover and kick a FG (20-17 SEA)

Y’all doing alright, Niners fans?

David Moore roasts Xavier Rhodes to extend Seattle’s lead (27-17 SEA)

Niners? Oh NINERS?!

Tre Flowers picks off Kirk Cousins in incredible play (27-17 SEA)

Rashaad Penny scores on a screen pass (34-17 SEA)

Mark this one down!

Laquan Treadwell gets wide open for a touchdown (34-24 SEA)

BIG BALLS PETE HAS ENTERED THE CHAT (34-24 SEA)

DK Metcalf fumbles, Vikings recover (34-24 SEA)

Kyle Rudolph makes great one-handed grab, game on (34-30 SEA)

Seahawks defense holds on 4th and 2, turn the Vikings over on downs (34-30 SEA)

Hopes crushed at Niners Nation!

CJ Ham fumbles kickoff, Seahawks win!!! (37-30 SEA Final)

Enjoy 2nd place, Niners!

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Post-Game: Vikings defense continues to struggle (Jack Day, Vikings Wire)

The secondary issues have been a problem all season for the Vikings, but even more so in the last three games. Over the last three games, the Vikings are allowing teams on average to throw for just under 300 yards.

The scary part about that stat is the fact that the Vikings just allowed more than 200 yards on the ground against Seattle. The Seahawks run game is one of the best in the NFL, but the Vikings are known for being great run stoppers nonetheless. If teams are able to continue to expose the Vikings defense both through the air and on the ground, it could be an ugly finish to the Vikings season.

The national media is already putting up story lines of Kirk Cousins being 0-8 on Monday Night Football, and he did have one turnover. However, that turnover bounced off the hands of Stefon Diggs, similar to his last interception that happened nearly two months ago.

This loss should not be put on Cousins. Instead, he is the reason the Vikings were able to get back into the game. He is playing MVP worthy football, and is a huge reason the Vikings are still four games above .500.

Even with the one turnover and multiple penalties, this loss falls on the hands of Zimmer’s defense. The offense has shown how much fight it has in the last two weeks, it just wasn’t enough to pull of a win in Seattle.

Post-Game: Xavier Rhodes has become a liability (Adam Patrick, Viking Age)

Xavier Rhodes was a First-Team All-Pro in 2017 and that currently feels like it was more than a decade ago.

Rhodes has been struggling all season long and the hope was that he’d be able to fix some of his problems during the Vikings’ bye week. Well, Minnesota’s “top” corner might actually be worse now than he was before the bye.

Rhodes’ struggles were on display once again on Monday night and it eventually led to him getting burned for a 60-yard touchdown after letting Seahawks receiver David Moore just run right past him. That was the fourth score the Vikings corner has given up this season and he continues to look more like a rookie out on the field than someone who has been in the NFL since 2013.

Yes, Rhodes was an All-Pro just two seasons ago. But that version of the veteran corner is clearly long gone and Minnesota has to seriously consider if they want him to be on their roster past this season.

Post-Game Video: Vikings vent line (SKOR North)

Enemy Preaction: Los Angeles Rams

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Playoffs are a near certainty for the Seahawks, but the job’s not done yet. All it takes is a road loss at the Los Angeles Rams and the 49ers winning at the New Orleans Saints and suddenly the Seahawks are back in the #5 seed. Don’t let your foot off the gas pedal, keep pushing for the #1 seed, and while we’re at it, let’s send Sean McVay into an early offseason.

What a damn season this has been. There isn’t much that makes sense when watching Seahawks football, and yet it usually ends in more winning than losing for Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, and company.

Thanks for reading and go ‘Hawks!