Minnesota Vikings: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

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Dec 21, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Terrence Fede (78) blocks the kick from Minnesota Vikings punter Jeff Locke (18) for a safety during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 37-35. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. The team must be able to win close games

In 2014, the Minnesota Vikings lost a total of five games by one possession. That means that if only a few plays had gone another way, the team could very well have finished the year at 12-4 and made the playoffs. In fact, after Teddy Bridgewater took over as the full time starting quarterback in week four, the team lost only two games by over eight points.

That points to an excellent ability to compete, but also to a lack of an ability to finish. They had a chance to win almost every game they played, but often failed to execute when it mattered most.

In week seven, the Bears allowed Bills quarterback Kyle Orton to throw a touchdown to receiver Sammy Watkins with one second left in the game to take the lead.

In week 11, the team lost when Bridgewater through an interception in the end zone with under two minutes left to Bears safety Ryan Mundy.

In week 15, the Minnesota offense failed to get close enough to allow kicker Blair Walsh to have a good shot at the game-winning field goal, forcing him to attempt a kick from 68 yards as time expired.

Only a week later, in a tie-game, Vikings punter Jeff Locke had a punt blocked in his own end zone for a safety with 45 seconds remaining, giving the Dolphins a 37-35 victory. Following this game, coach Mike Zimmer told reporters he wasn’t happy with his team’s performance (via ESPN’s Ben Goessling):

"“All the things I’ve been trying to preach for 11 months we didn’t do today,” he told reporters in Miami. “Critical errors in the field — red zone, third downs. It just wasn’t a good day.”"

This is indicative of what happened in every one of the Viking’s close losses. Each of these games could have been won with only a few extra plays being made by Minnesota. Had the defense been able to get a stop, Bridgewater made a better throw, the offense gotten a few more yards, or the offensive line given better protection, the season would have ended very differently for the team. Instead, the team made errors that they simply shouldn’t make, and this cost them the game.

To be fair, they did win several close games, with five of their seven victories being within a single possession, including two overtime victories. This only continues to point to the problem however, that they struggle to close out games. They were unable to run away with any victories, even in games like their week eight matchup with Tampa Bay, where they held the Buccaneers to 225 offensive yards. That was one of the overtime games, and the team only won on an outstanding defensive play by linebacker Anthony Barr. If you can hold a team to so few offensive yards, you should be able to beat them in four quarters, not require overtime and a defensive touchdown for victory.

The current Minnesota Vikings are not used to winning. They have not been very good for several years, and last year was no different. Without veteran leadership in 2014, the team struggled to understand what it takes to be a winning football team.

Many of the players in Minnesota have never been a part of a great football team, and the franchise itself has really never been great. They’ve never won a Super Bowl in their 50 year history, and that mold is hard to break. It is going to take some of the veteran leaders who have played in big games, along with some of the young stars who have recently been on winning teams in college to change this. They’re going to have to change the football culture as a whole.

Where that starts is in the winning of close games, and the dominating in games that should be easily won. A few more positive plays being made in the Vikings direction next year could mean the difference between a winning and a losing season. A few more players stepping up and saying they refuse to be a part of a losing football team could go a long way.

If the Vikings can win the close games, this will help them enormously not only in 2015, but as they build the franchise for the future.

Next: Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

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