Vikings Kicking Struggles Add to disappointment in loss in Tampa Bay

Ugh today was so disappointing for a playoff hopeful Vikings team.
Final: Minnesota Vikings 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26

Minnesota:
QB:
K. Cousins 24/37 225 yds 6.1 avg 1 TD 90.5 rtg 1 fumble lost
RB:
D. Cook 22 car 102 yds 4.6 avg 1 TD 14 long
A. Abdullah 3 car 11 yds 3.7 avg 4 long
WR:
I. Smith Jr 4 rec 63 yds 15.8 avg 1 TD 25 long
T. Conklin 5 rec 40 yds 8.0 avg 15 long
A. Thielen 3 rec 39 yds 13.0 avg 15 long
J. Jefferson 4 rec 39 yds 9.8 avg 17 long
CJ Ham 3 rec 22 yds 7.3 avg 9 long
K:
D. Bailey 0/3 FG 0/1 XP
DEF:
No impactful stats

Game Summary:
Now I can't make this summary too long since I watched this game in bits and pieces. This is why you didn't see any tweets regarding the Vikings game. Sheesh this game was ugly. It started off ok, in fact it looked like with the first few drives the Vikings had a shot to control the gameflow and eventually pull out the win in a surprising twist! But this fell by the way side in the second quarter. The defense overall played well today. They didn't allow more then 26 points which is really all you can ask of a defense in the NFL. However the offense could not produce today. Even when they did, Bailey couldn't make a field goal at all today. The Vikings scored on their second drive of the day with Cook running it in. However they could not add to the scoreboard until the fourth quarter when Cousins tossed a TD to Irv Smith Jr. 
But the Vikings could not seem to get on the board anymore. Their final drive of the game was looking to be quite impressive for a shot at making it a one score game. However on a 4th and long Cousins fumbled the ball and the rest is history. 
It was a weird game to review, because the Vikings never truly seemed out of the game. It was always potentially in reach since the Bucs never shut them out of the game, the door was always open.
However something that needs to happen on Tuesday when the Vikings begin practice again is to fire Dan Bailey and begin another kicker search. For two straight weeks Bailey has at least missed a field goal under 40 yards out, and missed at least one extra point. It is time to look for kickers. I guess if they can't find one then keep him, but I find it unlikely that they can't find a decent kicker.

Playoff Update
With today's loss in Tampa Bay and with Arizona beating the Giants, the Vikings are out of the playoffs. They are still only a game out so any kind of slip up with the Cardinals would thrust the Vikings into the 7th seed again. The Bears also won today, proving they are not completely out of it either. The Vikings continue to have the tie-breaker over Chicago as well.

Injury Report
TE Kyle Rudolph missed today's game with an ankle injury, he was a game-time decision. This ends his 93-game consecutive streak of games played.
RB Alexander Mattison missed his second straight game with illness.
LB Eric Kendricks missed his second straight game with a calf injury.
OT Brian O'Neill left the game in the 3rd quarter and did not return with an eye injury.
CB Kris Boyd left in the 4th quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return.

Up Next
Now the Vikings will return home to face the Chicago Bears in a must win game to keep pace with the Cardinals and continue to stay ahead of Chicago. Kickoff is on Sunday, December 20 at 12 PM CT.

​#Skol