In a heartbreaking loss for the Minnesota Vikings, they are pointing the blame at their loyal fans for their defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium. With a chance to secure a victory in the final minute of regulation, the Vikings found themselves in a frenzy after converting a crucial fourth-and-5 with a pass to T.J. Hockenson. The crowd noise from their hometown fans was deafening, causing quarterback Kirk Cousins to struggle to hear the play call from head coach Kevin O'Connell. As a result, precious seconds ticked off the clock, and Cousins was unable to preserve the time by spiking the ball.

Cousins acknowledged the impact of the noise, admitting that he couldn't hear the play call and had to make a split-second decision. In an attempt to salvage the situation, Cousins called a play on his own, but his pass intended for Hockenson was intercepted by Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., sealing the Vikings' fate. "Just couldn't hear him with the noise," Cousins lamented, according to ESPN. "Just ended up calling a play, and the play I called was the same play he was trying to get to."

Head coach Kevin O'Connell took responsibility for the time mismanagement, acknowledging that spiking the ball would have been the smarter decision. Reflecting on the critical moment, O'Connell expressed regret, stating, "Definitely looking back on it, just wish I would have clocked it. No matter the benefit we had going fast, the value was not received clearly with what that execution looked like in that moment."

The loss was a devastating blow for the Vikings, leaving them with an unfortunate 0-3 start to their season. Making matters worse, history is not on their side, as only four teams since 1990 have managed to make the playoffs after such a dismal start. The Chargers, on the other hand, celebrated their hard-fought victory, which boosts their chances of a successful season.

The defeat has left fans frustrated with Kirk Cousins, as both of his final drives ended without any points on the board. The Vikings' hopes of a comeback were crushed when they turned the ball over on downs during a 4th-and-2 attempt from the Chargers' 2-yard line. Cousins was given another opportunity to lead his team to victory, but a crucial interception by Kenneth Murray Jr. dashed those hopes.

Cousins cited his inability to hear the plays being transmitted to him as the reason behind his decision-making during those critical moments. "I just couldn't hear him, and the noise," Cousins explained, referencing head coach Kevin O'Connell. The quarterback also revealed that he had the option to spike the ball and stop the clock but chose not to. He expressed his caution about taking matters into his own hands, referencing a previous unsuccessful attempt during a game against Buffalo last year. "Until you know the future, it's hard to know whether to take the reins or not, but I've done it before and try not to make a habit of it, certainly," Cousins said.

With their winless record, the Vikings face an uphill battle to salvage their season. Cousins acknowledged the challenging situation, stating, "We dug ourselves a hole, and we've got a long way to climb out."

The Minnesota Vikings will have a chance to turn their fortunes around as they face the Carolina Panthers in a road game on Sunday. As they seek their first win of the season, the Vikings will have to address their issues with time management and ensure that crucial plays are executed flawlessly, regardless of the noise level in the stadium.