On third down from the Cincinnati 42-yard line, Minnesota ran its version of the “brotherly shove” or “tush push,” a play popularized this season by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bengals’ defense halted Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens in his tracks, forcing a fourth-down play with less than one yard to gain.

O’Connell kept the offensive on the field and elected to run the identical play on fourth down, which Cincinnati also stuffed, resulting in a turnover on downs. During a press conference following the game, O’Connell explained his choice.

“We’re talking about 4-5 inches there,” O’Connell explained. “I don’t want to have to turn around, extend the ball, and hand off.” “In that moment, I trust our guys to execute.”

O’Connell’s faith was misplaced in this instance. However, not all of the fault must be assigned to Mullens or the Minnesota offensive line. O’Connell chose wide receiver Brandon Powell as the “pusher” behind Mullens on the play rather than a larger man like fullback CJ Ham. The strategy didn’t work.

“O’Connell said Brandon Powell was the ‘pusher’ because he decided to use 11 personnel (3WR/1RB/1TE) in an effort to keep the Bengals out of a goal-line type of front,” according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

Media members also questioned O’Connell about why he didn’t use a timeout following the third-down play to allow more time for a review. O’Connell said a referee told him the crew had already conducted a review and that the spot of the football had been confirmed.

No Chance Vikings Fire Kevin O’Connell After Loss to Bengals

Minnesota’s loss on Saturday was painful, but it was far from a death blow to the team’s playoff chances, and it’s certainly not reason to fire O’Connell or anyone else on the coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, who was arrested for DWI one week before the Vikings’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The squad started Week 15 with a 7-6 record and the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture. Five teams, including the division rival Green Bay Packers, trailed the Vikings by one game at 6-7.

Minnesota’s biggest disadvantage over the next three weeks of the season is that it must face the division-leading Detroit Lions twice, with a game against the up-and-coming Packers wedged in between. Even if the Vikings do not make the playoffs, it is tough to question O’Connell’s performance this season in the face of adversity.

The team started 1-4, losing many games it should have won owing to horrible turnover luck. After wide receiver Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring strain that sidelined him for the next seven games, the Vikings went on a five-game winning streak to get back above.500.

Minnesota’s final two victories came in the absence of starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against the Packers in Week 8. Mullens became the Vikings’ fourth quarterback to start a game this season on Saturday.

O’Connell has a 20-11 regular-season record in his first two seasons as head coach in Minnesota, and he led the team to a home playoff game last season, which the Vikings lost to the New York Giants.