There is a QB1 controversy within the Vikings’ lockeroom
With Nick Mullens getting the start at Cincinnati, is he really the guy to finish off the season?
By: Ross Blilie
Ever since Kirk Cousins went down with an injury, the Minnesota Vikings offense has been the talk at the water cooler. One of their quarterbacks this season only played one drive before he was hurt with a concussion. Then it was the new guy who was brought in from another team. After he fell off of cloud nine, it was time for a third quarterback to see the field.
Now, with all three backups getting some playing time, the team has won six games and lost three since starting the season 1-4. Nick Mullens, a former backup QB that played sparingly with the Raiders, has been QB 1 most recently. For what my opinion is worth, I don’t believe that Mullens is the guy to lead the team to not only a three -game win streak, but a division championship as well as a secure playoff spot in the NFC.
One reason is that he lacks mobility. Every single fan that watched the game against the Bengals witnessed how awkward it was to see Mullens scramble as well as run a quarterback sneak. He is not Josh Dobbs and he is most definitely not Kirk Cousins. However, I want to write that last sentence with respect to Mullens and his game overall. He did end up making some good plays, but also some really bad plays and some very risky plays that turned out to be pure luck.
Nick Mullens has some Kirk Cousins-esque in him, but what he also lacks is the quick decision making that is required in pro football. I didn’t see too many plays where he simply made either a three-step-drop or a five-step-drop and decided to throw the ball to an open receiver. Everyone knows that in order to get to the next play, if a receiver is not open right away, you have to throw the ball away. Don’t try to extend the play, that only causes mistakes and potentially a turnover. The Vikings offense is terrible when it comes to giveaways.
To turn the ball over to the opposition the way that Mullens did in Cincinnati is simply ridiculous. Better decisions must be made if the team wants to not only stay in the playoffs, but to actually have a shot at getting to the Super Bowl.
Here’s a question for you: will the Minnesota Vikings take down the red hot Lions and repeat as NFC North Champions? Or will they blow it and let the Lions have their first Division title since Barry Sanders played in the mid-90’s? My answer is they will let Detroit have the title. At this point in the season, I feel like the team is going to lose out and the Lions will win out and have a really good shot at getting to play against San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.
Ross Blilie is an avid NFL fan of the Minnesota Vikings since the 1990’s. He loves to talk about the NFL. He also enjoys attending the University Of North Dakota Men’s Hockey games in Grand Forks, ND. His hobbies also include bowling with his wife and friends, narrating audiobooks, fishing, and even sitting by a campfire with family at Lake Blackduck in Minnesota. You can find Ross on the X app & Instagram @Rossthenarrator.
