neugey

We could/should have countered with keeping a RB back to protect Brees a little longer and get the ball to our studs Michael Thomas and Jared Cook on quality short or intermediate routes. If you go gun empty with an immobile QB like Brees or Brady you are asking for trouble in today's NFL, it has clearly changed now.

CHA_CHING

We pretty much gave up on the run in this game.

We ran the ball 17 times and that is counting a run from Brees on a pass play.

Taysom Hill and Murray were gashing them. Payton chose to force-feed Kamara, instead of riding the hot hand. Hill very nearly took over the game with back to back 15+ yard runs. Next play, Payton takes him out, puts Brees in and he fumbles. The game was over after that. It was a miracle we got to OT.

We could've attacked the Vikings by running up the middle, but kept going for pitches to Kamara.

Payton was out-coached and too stubborn to really change his game plan until it was too late. They bullied and shoved us around for 3 quarters.

The Vikings could've blown us out if they didn't have such a conservative game plan. I read on the Minnesota forums, many of their fans have criticized Zimmer all year for getting too involved in the offensive play calling and forcing a run-heavy plan to help his defense out. We experienced how deadly their passing game could be in OT when they finally went through the air and burned us badly with a big play. They could've put 30+ on us if they wanted to.