Expansion teams almost always struggle in year one, and the reasons for that were very evident on Friday night. Minnesota lacked cohesion, and a true identity. The team hasn’t been together for long, and you could tell. While they had a few bright moments, misplaced passes were the norm, and Minnesota struggled in the final third for the majority of a wet, rainy night in Portland.
This should improve as the season wears on and the players get more familiar with each other, but on Friday night, the normal growing pains of an expansion side were on full display.