Yes, I think Marshall Eriksen said it best...
The Vikings Sunday night lost their fourth NFC championship game of my lifetime- in four tries- losing to the Saints 31-28 in overtime. It was a game they simultaneously had no business being in and nevertheless came very close to winning. No, it wasn't as bad as the Gary Anderson Game or 41-donut, but still quite a stomach-punch.
Yes, the loss had many obvious culprits- five turnovers, all of which came at the worst imaginable times; an unconscionable Brad Childress brain fart on the final drive of regulation, leading to the Vikings never even getting a chance to kick the winning field goal, and a truly ugly interception by Brett Favre right afterward.
However, I don't want to pin the loss on Favre- the man looked like he was beaten to within an inch of his life, and went back on the field 3 or 4 different times when it looked like he couldn't walk, and still threw for 310 yards. No, there's no excuse for that INT- but that was gutsiness, getting back on the field like that again and again. Because if Tarvaris Jackson had gotten on the field, the game wouldn't have been that close.
But now Favre isn't sure if he wants to retire? What a shocker! My dream scenario remains McNabb-to-the-Vikings, but that would require Favre deciding, early on in the offseason, to retire, and not changing his mind.
However, if Favre is committed to playing, and is healthy, I'm not opposed to bringing him back. It was a damn exciting season, he's still a perfect fit for the offense, and he showed this year he can still play despite his advanced age. Either way, how about deciding early on, Brett?
- Attention, Phillies fans- you know how you knew all year Brad Lidge would blow a crucial save in the postseason, and then he did? Us Vikes fans felt the same this year with Peterson and fumbles- and then it happened. Three times.
- Tom had the line of the night, asking me "you didn't fumble the baby, did you?" That caused my first smile in the first hour after the game.
- A prediction- that Prince/Vikings song will disappear into a wormhole and never be spoken of ever again. Probably for the best.
- I will be rooting unreservedly for the Saints in the Super Bowl. That city has suffered enough, both football- and not-football-wise, and deserves a title. They're also a pretty likable team- unlike, say, the Cowboys.
- On a personal note, if the Vikings are going to make the Super Bowl, I'd prefer my son Noah to be old enough to know what's going on, and by "old enough," I mean, "older than three weeks."
Posted by Stephen Silver at January 25, 2010 01:21 AMUgghh - that's the best we'll ever get for the Vikings. Everyone knows we were the better team. That lousy protecting the ball and still a Longwell FG away from winning. The Herschel Walker Curse strikes again. My prediction... The Cubs make the World Series before the Vikings. Either way, either team will lose in a spectacular fashion.
Posted by: Jeff S at January 25, 2010 02:48 PMPersonally, this game was worse than the 41-0 game. That one was an embarrassment, this one was simply "Vikings luck."
I think everyone collectively knew that it was going to end in a horrific fashion. Even as the Vikings were driving, there was a fatalistic sense in my viewing party's room. We all knew that the Vikings would lose the game somehow.
Personally, Im of the camp that says that this game should be referred to as "The 12th man in the huddle" game. Something shorter might be nice, but that was the defining moment for me.
Gary Anderson > Hail Mary > 12th man
Posted by: Jason at January 25, 2010 02:56 PMback luck viking ,i want to see favre VS manning
Posted by: cheap nfl jerseys at January 25, 2010 09:03 PMI agree with Jeff S. I am 100 percent certain that the Cubs will make the World Series before the Vikings.
Posted by: Dan at January 26, 2010 12:45 PM