Mike Zimmer 4th-Down Punt vs Packers Might Be Most Cowardly Decision of Vikings Season
By Michael Luciano
The Minnesota Vikings were locked in a tooth and nail battle with the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in a game that determined the fate of the NFC North.
Kirk Cousins and the offense had totally stalled out after a terrific start to the game, and the Vikings managed to push the ball to their own 45-yard line on one of their better drives. Trailing 17-10, Mike Zimmer made the unacceptable decision of punting the ball back to Aaron Rodgers and a Packers offense that found a groove in the second half.
MIN decided to punt to GB from the MIN 45 on 4th & 1 with 14:14 remaining in the 4th while losing 10 to 17.
— Surrender Index 90 (@surrender_idx90) December 24, 2019
With a Surrender Index of 11.9, this punt ranks at the 96th percentile of cowardly punts of the 2019 season, and the 94th percentile of all punts since 2009.
Zimmer even sent Cousins out to try to catch Green Bay offsides, but decided to call timeout with 17 seconds left on the play clock before sending punter Britton Colquitt out to boot it away.
Safe to say Vikings fans were NOT happy with this cowardly play call.
I feel like wasting a time-out to kick a cowardly punt should add to your score
— Number 1 Vikings Fan (@KedgeOnline) December 24, 2019
Zimmer might be more on the conservative side of head coaching spectrum, but this was simply outrageous. Aaron Jones would extend the lead only minutes later.
This is not Detroit, man! This is essentially the playoffs!