Mike Zimmer might be sleepless after Sunday night's game in Seattle.
The Vikings Head Coach devised a perfect defensive game plan against Russell Wilson and the high-flying Seahawks, only to watch things fall apart in the second half in all three phases.
The end result was a heartbreaking 27-26 Vikings loss as Minnesota dropped to 1-4 in the 2020 season.
The Vikings led 13-0 at the half, then endured a roller-coaster third quarter and couldn't hold a late fourth-quarter lead as Seattle scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 15 seconds left.
Zimmer is now 0-5 in his career against Seattle, and the Vikings have now lost road games in prime time to the Seahawks in three consecutive seasons.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is now 7-0 in his career against the Vikings, including the playoffs.
Minnesota's last win in Seattle came in 2006.
Here are four more takeaways from Sunday night:
1. Vikings offense aggressive on 4th down
With such a potent offense on the other sideline, the Vikings wanted to keep their own offense on the field as much as possible.
Zimmer was as aggressive as ever late in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings leading 26-21 at the 2-minute warning.
It was fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 6, as a conversion would have sealed the win. Zimmer went for it, but Alexander Mattison was stuffed for no gain.
Seattle took the ball at the 6-yard line and drove 94 yards for the game-winning score.
According to a stat shown during NBC's Sunday Night Football, a field goal would not have changed the Vikings win percentage of 94 percent.
A Vikings conversion would have given Minnesota a 100-win percentage, and a Seattle stop would have left the Vikings with a 74 percent chance to win.
The Vikings were also aggressive in the first half, as Minnesota went for it — and converted — on a pair of fourth-down attempts against Seattle.
In the first quarter, the Vikings had fourth-and-2 at the Seahawks 36. Minnesota went for it and got it, as Cousins found Justin Jefferson for 5 yards.
The Vikings were bold again in the second quarter, and were rewarded yet again. On fourth-and-1 at midfield, Cook rumbled ahead for 3 yards to move the sticks.
Both conversions led to points, as Minnesota raced out to an early 10-0 lead on the road.
2. Mattison carries the load
With Dalvin Cook hobbled with a groin injury, Alexander Mattison did all he could to carry the Vikings to victory.
Mattison set career highs with 112 yards and 20 carries, recording the first 100-yard game of his career.
He averaged 5.6 yards per run and had a long run of 25 yards against the Seahawks.
Cook was injured on the Vikings first play from scrimmage in the second half, and missed almost the entirety of the rest of the game.
He finished with 17 carries for 65 yards and a score.
Minnesota ran for 201 total yards against a defense that entered Week 5 as the league's third-best run defense.
3. Lynch, Ngakoue lead Vikings 1st-half sack party
It was the Purple People Eaters who quipped they always wanted to "meet at the quarterback."
The Vikings defense took the manta to heart, sacking Wilson four times on Sunday night, with each occurring in the first half.
Rookie James Lynch provided a highlight, as he got to Wilson in the second quarter for his first NFL sack. The 2020 fourth-rounder from Baylor was active for the first time in his career.
Lynch set a single-season record with 13.5 sacks in 2019 and also holds Baylor's record with 22 career sacks.
Yannick Ngakoue also got to Wilson in the second quarter, chasing him down from behind for a 1-yard loss. The sack gave the defensive end a sack in four straight games. He now has 5.0 sacks on the season.
Ifeadi Odenigbo and Eric Wilson also sacked Wilson in the first half. Minnesota had just 7.0 sacks as a team entering Week 4.
4. Dan the Man: Bailey 2-of-2 on long FGs — By Lindsey Young
Big stage, bright lots, pouring rain … no problem for Dan Bailey.
Bailey made field goals of 52 and 46 yards, respectively, for the Vikings.
Unfortunately for Minnesota, the pair of long kicks weren't enough to help the Vikings edge out a win at CenturyLink Field.
The Vikings had the option to send Bailey out for a third field goal late in the fourth quarter but decided to go for the first down (and would-be win) on fourth-and-inches. Minnesota didn't get the conversion, and Seattle drove down the field and scored a touchdown for the victory.
