Dan Bailey has helped many teams buy games over his 10-year career. He right about single-footedly misplaced one for the Vikings on Sunday.
And it could truly perchance well designate him his job.
Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer turned into understandably miffed after Bailey missed four kicks, at the side of three self-discipline dreams, in a 26-14 loss to the Buccaneers.
“I am in fact disappointed,” Zimmer told reporters, per The Star Tribune. “I in fact maintain one arrangement of faith in him, I in fact maintain one arrangement of self assurance in him, however these final two weeks haven’t been stunning.”
Per week ago, Bailey made a sport-a success 23-yard self-discipline aim in extra time in opposition to the Jaguars. But that turned into entirely after he’d compelled an additional duration by lacking three other kicks, two of that had been extra functions.
Following Bailey’s most modern snide day at the distance of business, Zimmer mentioned he mild has to capture on whether or now not it be his final in Minnesota. Bailey couldn’t connect on kicks from 36, 54 and 46 yards out, while moreover lacking the label on an early PAT. The Vikings opted for a two-point strive after their 2d touchdown, leaving Bailey scoreless on the afternoon.
He equaled his misses for the season coming into Week 14 and exceeded final year’s entire (27 of 29). Parting with the frequent Pro Bowler interestingly would possibly perchance perchance well now not be an emotional name, nonetheless.
“At this closing date we’re now not in fact skittish about emotions anymore,” Zimmer mentioned.
Adding to the depth of the difficulty turned into the worth of a December loss. The Vikings (6-7) had crawled encourage from a 1-5 begin as much as the season to .500 and the seventh seed in the NFC. Now they’re in a tie for eighth.
Zimmer, perchance pondering the Vikes’ team-wide inconsistency ultimately of the season, closed out his postgame press convention by coming to his kicker’s defense. We’ll quickly fetch out if it be his final desire for Bailey.
“Whenever you guys need me to fireplace guys for making a mistake right here or there, we wouldn’t maintain any avid gamers,” Zimmer mentioned. “Let’s now not set this all on Dan Bailey.”
