The absence of star left tackle Christian Darrisaw played a role in the Vikings’ inability to move the ball against the Seahawks. The drop off from Darrisaw to reserve left tackle Justin Skule is immense, and it made life much harder for Brosmer whenever he dropped back to pass.

Though the Vikings only needed about a yard to move the chains, O’Connell dialed up a play-action pass, asking a lot of rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, who was making the first start of his career. It proved to be a disaster of epic proportions that cost the Vikings in an embarrassing 26-0 loss to the Seahawks.