I knew I wasn’t going to be able to watch Sunday’s game even if it was broadcast in the Toronto area, as I’d promised to head down to Burlington to bring my mother to our place for the holidays. This means my Twitter feed was completely empty of my traditional game-related tweets on Sunday afternoon (you’re welcome, guys).

After dropping two games to the Detroit Lions, the Vikings are looking at a wildcard rather than the NFC North title to get them into the post-season. Even getting the wildcard pretty much requires the Vikings to win all of their remaining games (and still will likely need some help), which will be a challenge with an offensive line consisting of a hay bale, a regional champion mannequin challenge player, a scarecrow, a mime with a nasty makeup-related skin condition, and young Bobby McFarlane (the backup right tackle at Our Lady of Hopeless Causes High School in Mankato, MN). Honestly, it’s a genuine miracle that Sam Bradford is still alive at this point in the season … and keeping him alive for the last quarter of the season will be a double miracle.

The Vikings’ running tally of players (and even coaches) missing just keeps getting longer:

• Starting quarterback.
• Starting running back.
• Starting left tackle.
• Starting right tackle.
• Starting right guard.
• Starting centre.
• Starting free safety.
• Starting defensive tackle.
• Backup left tackle.
• Offensive co-ordinator (resigned, rather than injured (except perhaps to pride)).

And those are not just “dinged-up/miss a game or two” type injuries. Injuries are part of the game, but you can only draw so deep on the talent pool before you start coming up empty. If there was ever an argument to increase the 53-man roster, the Minnesota Vikings’ 2016 roster turnover provides more than adequate evidence.

At 1500ESPN, Matthew Coller’s instant analysis goes like this:

– No matter how hideous the game was, the Vikings got the job done in Jacksonville. They struggled in the red zone (2-for-5), took bad penalties (7-for-93), were bad on third down (3-for-11), but still somehow came out with their season still alive. Sure, they did not play like a team that is going to run the table, but considering Mike Zimmer was coaching with one eye and Harrison Smith was missing with an ankle injury, the Vikings aren’t going to win any of these games with style points.

– Once again, the Vikings defense came through – as they have for most of the season. Blake Bortles will finish the game with a pretty decent quarterback rating because he didn’t turn the ball over (which is kind of surprising), but he was mostly ineffective. Overall, the Jags gained just 4.8 yards per play. The defensive line pressured Bortles consistently, sacking him four times, and the Vikings kept him in the pocket. They also gave up less than four yards per rush.

– If the Vikings are going to win out, the offense has to improve their goal line offense. Not only did they fail more often than succeeded, but also gave the ball away at a key time late in the fourth quarter on a Matt Asiata fumble that could have blown the game. Sam Bradford’s touchdown to Kyle Rudolph that put a wrap on things is much more how the goal line offense should look, not trying to pound the ball into big bodies over and over. Or the Vikings could utilize the QB sneak at some point.

– There weren’t many outstanding performances on the Vikings offense or special teams, though a low key good game for Cordarrelle Patterson. His 53-yard kick return set up a Vikings field goal to put them up 9-3, then on a third down play late in the game, he drove forward for a first down. His play set up the put-the-game-away touchdown. He may not be an ace receiver, but Patterson has done enough to prove he is valuable on a weekly basis.

I thought the final score sounded familiar, and not only did the Vikings get that same result earlier this year against the Titans, it’s only the third time in NFL history a game has ended with that score, per Ted Glover at the Daily Norseman. He also awarded the following players with Blue Chip Stock ratings:

Sam Bradford, QB: If you can’t run, you better be able to protect the quarterback and throw the ball. Today, the Vikings did that very well. Sam Bradford led a balanced passing attack, and one that took several deep shots. Bradford was rewarded with 292 yards, a touchdown, and a rating of 106.5. He wasn’t sacked once, and at times, it appeared he had days to throw the ball. The Vikings offense still has a ways to go with a lot of things, but when Bradford has time in the pocket, he can consistently make good throws and move the Vikings offense.

Adam Thielen, WR: One of the reasons the Vikings pass game was so good today was because of Thielen. He had 101 yards on just four catches, and every catch was huge in terms of the Vikings sustaining a drive and eventually winning. Thielen has really emerged as a threat this year, and is a guy that I can see as integral part of the Vikings offense for years to come.

Everson Griffen, DE: Griffen was a force on defense today, netting two sacks and creating havoc for most of the afternoon. He led a defensive line that harassed Blake Bortles all day, and this kind of performance will be required for the final three game playoff push.