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.