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Timberwolves among best 'on the planet,' definitely better than a push in Minnesota

With the game on the line, the Vikings used one of their lightest players (Brandon Powell) to try to shove forward an immobile quarterback (Nick Mullens) behind an offensive line — and particularly a center (Garrett Bradbury) — known more for being nimble than forceful.

And when it didn't work, they tried it again.

Mullens, who averages about 6.3 inches per carry for his NFL career (40 rushes, 7 yards), could not muster the four or five needed to get the first down.

The plays failed, the Vikings were left to rue a game that got away and Vikings fans gained more evidence that Kevin O'Connell is a very good coach six days a week and an average one on gamedays — especially when he offered the explanation that by using Powell as the pusher he was trying to keep the Bengals out of their goal-line defense, a familiar line of overthinking that cost them in a critical spot against the Chargers earlier this year.