The play calling. Our defense did everything that was needed to stymie the Vikings offense, and held the league's leading rusher to 2 yards per carry on a day when the running game should have been the key to victory. Sure they gave up some tough penalties, but they kept the Vikes out of the end zone. What more can you ask?
Our offense struggled, and rather than adjusting the game plan, once again we stuck with what didn't work. Thanks to the defense, we got away with it, but we should have been able to generate two more touchdowns with the short, quick passing attack that has given us so much success recently. I have no problem with not taking advantage of the space they left for Russ to run. It was there on the RO and play action, but there is too much chance of injury in the super cold weather. Protecting Russ was the one part of the offensive game plan that I agreed with.
Someone is going to come on here and say, "but our game plan for the entire week was predicated on the return of Lynch." Poppycock. You shouldn't be coaching in the NFL if you can't foresee the probability that Lynch wasn't going to be 100% and make a game plan that doesn't rely on him being 100% to have success. Any game plan should have allowed for the possibility that Lynch gets injured on his first carry.
-bsd