What hurt the most about the loss last night to New Orleans Saints was that it was a game, barring one statistic, that the Vikings should have won.
The Vikings had twice as many first downs, twice as many yards and ten minutes more time of possession. Perhaps the only truly glaring team mistake was the yardage allowed on kick returns; a long kick return to start off Over Time basically sealed the deal. Even on penalties, the Saints did worse despite the crowd noise. The fact remains that they shouldn’t have been in overtime at all except for one important stat.
Turn overs. Six fumbles, three lost. That must be some sort of record. New Orleans put the ball on the ground three times and only lost it once. That punt return fumble by Reggie Bush should have resulted in at least three points (no overtime!) but AP and Favre managed to bungle a hand off about three seconds later and give it back to the Saints. Brett Favre had two interceptions whereas Brees had none. Too bad Favre threw the interception at the end of the game that took Minnesota out of the drivers seat for what happened to be the rest of the game.
It was like the offense just didn’t want to win! Two opponent red zone lost fumbles, one in our own red zone that set up a New Orleans TD. The defense did their part I believe, it has to be almost impossible to keep the other team from scoring when they get the ball on your ten yard line.
Bottom line, the Vikings had a great team and a great shot at winning a super bowl this year. They’ll still be a good team next year but it is hard to believe that they will do this well and have so many of the right pieces again. It is really disappointing. Dave Brahn welcomed me to Vikings fanhood after the loss last night.
Thanks, I guess.
–Nat
TeamDave
A Blog from Iowa about whatever…Nat wrote about
First of all I have a 2 hour late start tomorrow, nothing to do with the Vikings, but I do get to sleep in after the rough day of working for 3 hours today. Blizzards are fun…when school is let out early or starting late. Not when they cancel and make me teach into June though.
On to the Vikings. Here is my take on the Vikings….beyond my Pants on the Ground theory which is very sound, but I am not going to take the time to type that out again.
1. The better team lost, but it was their own fault
2. I wish I could blame Childress for more than the 12 men in the huddle penalty, but I do not want to watch the game again to find another point where I can.
3. Hold onto the freaking ball
4. My 7th and 8th grade football teams had less fumbles this season than the Vikings did during the NFC championship game. That’s a FACT
5. Brett Farve is the only reason the Vikings made it that…dare I say Farve (its a play on words Nat) And he is a main reason they lost, run instead of throwing across your body and the field….but I still do not blame him.
6. I find it funny that Farves best season was as a Viking, and his statement that this is the best team he has ever played on is a FACT, they would have beat his Super Bowl winning Packer team.
7. The Vikings will not be back to the NFC Championship game for another long stretch…for multiple reasons
The Reasons
1. Farve is done…I really think he definitely maybe actually might be. And even if he isn’t I don’t think he has another season left of taking hits week after week.
2. Brad Childress
3. Tavaris Jackson- Not the answer
4. Sage Rosenfels – Played for ISU…need I say more
5. Brad Childress- Seriously why give him an extension for driving to the airport and picking up Farve.
6. QB is the biggest need, I doubt they will do this in this draft, nor do I really want them to because I’m not sold on Sam Bradford.
7. Brad Childress- We are going to see another DC go the way of Tomlin while we are stuck with a guy that looks like an orthodontists
8. Some of the core ppl are getting old, Pat Williams, Winfield being the most important
9. Our WRs are not that good, Brett Farve made them look good, I hope we wait before paying Rice big bucks.
10. I have heard a rumor that Brad Childress is going to use all of our draft picks to move up in the 2nd round to draft a player that was going to be undrafted, and is not a real need, while waving goodbye to a proven vet that would help the team. Wait that was when he let go of Sharper.
And the one thing that MIGHT (thats a big might) make all these things go wrong…..if the Vikings somehow are able to trade for McNabb, without giving up the farm.
-Dave
All these comments made me depressed all over again. Being a Vikings fan is going to give me ulcers at a young age…
You should have seen Daves pants on the ground reasoning. It was pretty funny…
Found it 🙂
David Brahn: the more I look back and review the game the clearer it becomes
David Brahn: and I now know why the Vikings had so many problems with the fumbles
David Brahn: first how many of the people fumbling were wearing wranglers…..0
David Brahn: wranglers are a very tight pair of pants
David Brahn: since they were not wearing wranglers, their pants were on the ground
David Brahn: pants on the ground
David Brahn: hat turned sideways, gold in their mouth, and their pants on the ground