The Minnesota Vikings will continue to start quarterback Nick Mullens in a divisional matchup with the Detroit Lions that has severe playoff implications.
Despite the heartbreaking 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Mullens did enough to secure the starting job for the second straight week. In an article from ESPN Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell praised Mullens for his play in the inter-conference competition.
“I thought Nick did a lot of really good things in the football game on Saturday,” O’Connell said Monday. “… Nick knows that we also need we need to try to limit and eliminate those critical, critical errors where we turned the football over in the red zone with the chance for points twice there in the football game. Nick will continue to work toward that, but I think with another good week of preparation, and building upon the positive things he did last Saturday, my expectation is that Nick is going to go out and play really well for us this weekend.”
The Vikings have three games left to try and clinch a spot in the playoffs. All three of those games are against divisional opponents. After facing the Lions, they will take on the Green Bay Packers at home, which is a team they beat in Kirk Cousins’ last game of the year. Minnesota will then take on the Lions again for their last game of the season.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens’ solid play was offset by two interceptions
In the Saturday game against the Bengals, Mullens had two touchdowns and over 300 yards on 26 completed passes. Of his seven incompletions, two of them were interceptions. One of the interceptions was a contender for the most baffling turnover of the year as he managed to throw the ball directly into the chest of the defensive lineman (B.J. Hill) that was in the midst of taking him down.
BJ Hill with just an unreal INT from his cheeks WHILE in the middle of getting the sack
Insane stuff from the big man pic.twitter.com/5CryHKTwe2
— Barstool Gambling (@stoolgambling) December 16, 2023
Although it won’t show up on the stat sheet due to an offsides penalty, Mullens threw a pick-six in a crucial moment of the game. If it stood, Mullens would’ve had a lot harder time sending the game to overtime.
The Bengals had a go-ahead pick six called back because of an offsides…
The Vikings went on to score a go-ahead touchdown on the same drive 😳 pic.twitter.com/egvXaYPZdj
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 16, 2023
Mullens managed to get his playmakers involved, which was the reason they were able to compete with the Bengals. Rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison had over 100 yards receiving, and star WR Justin Jefferson accrued 84 yards on seven receptions in his first full game in 11 weeks.
The Minnesota Vikings are victims of the “year of the backup QB”
Mullens started the year as the second-string QB for the Minnesota Vikings behind veteran Kirk Cousins. When Cousins tore his achilles, rookie Jaren Hall got the starting job as Mullens was on injured reserve due to a back injury. Hall was replaced by journeyman Joshua Dobbs after an injury, and Dobbs’ performance earned him the starting job for four games before O’Connell turned to Mullens.
Saturday was the 18th time Mullens had his number called for the starting job. He is one of over 50 quarterbacks to start for an NFL team this season. Over half of the NFL was forced to play someone that was not their starter this season.
While teams like the Bengals immediately found their replacement in Jake Browning, teams like the Vikings were forced to play multiple quarterbacks as they searched for a replacement.
Mullens is 5-13 as a starter heading into the matchup with the Lions.
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