Even then, it took every ounce of energy, plus a couple angel-sent gifts.
On the sixth snap after Metellus' takeaway, Reichard sailed another kick through the uprights, except a defensive penalty for too many men on the field turned a fourth-and-14 into a fourth-and-9, and swayed O'Connell to roll the dice. The continuously cruel unfolding of events had Wentz getting sacked on that re-do, but it also included more laundry for illegal contact by the defense, which generated a new set of downs.
In a fleeting moment of precise execution, Wentz then arced a touchdown pass to Jordan Addison, cutting the Chargers lead to 14 points with 4:40 left in the third quarter, despite all of this (try to keep up, because it's a doozy): Minnesota amassed 16 net yards on nine offensive plays in the first quarter; it had almost double that in penalty yardage (four penalties for 29 yards in the first frame, and eight for 66 in the game); the Vikings hurried and missed a field goal as time expired in the first half because they had to burn their final two timeouts after consecutive sacks and rushed Reichard onto the field following a chunk completion on a third-and-18; the Chargers had almost as many first downs (20) at the 10:12 mark in the third as Minnesota had total plays (24); and Wentz was bruised, battered, beaten to a pulp.
As the game winded down, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer relieved Wentz and went 3-for-4 passing with 13 yards. Brosmer was ready to roll whenever, but Wentz "wanted to keep going," O'Connell said. "The confidence we have in Max and the upside we see in Max is real, but you also don't want to send him out there and force a level of figure-it-out-ness that's probably beyond a guy playing for the first time."
Again, aside from five road wins in Turkey Day games, the Vikings haven't won a Thursday roadie since Bud Grant's Vikings played a clean game offensively and forced four turnovers on defense to upset the 1978 NFC Champion Dallas Cowboys on their home turf. Alas, that short-week, away-game curse is alive.
In theory, a mini-bye weekend should help Minnesota heal and prepare for Detroit next Sunday.
"I told our team we're going to find out what we're all about and what this year's team is all about," said O'Connell, harping on a desire for improvement, no matter the outcome. "I've always felt a level of 'compete' from our organization, a level