Vikings @ Saints game thread

[iahawk20]

No, but you also seem unwilling to say that it was bad decision on a bad play? My memories of Favre tossing game-losing interceptions in a Packer uniform are still pretty fresh. After all, it was only 2 years he did the exact same thing, and he did it against the Eagles a few years before that.

Packer fans don't have short memories, but there is probably a feeling of poetic justice tonight, along with just a hint of irony, and a dash of karma.

It was a terrible play. I also believe they should have never been in that position. Favre kept them in the game despite losing two fumbles inside the NO 10, and one inside their own 10. That is a huge swing and despite getting leveled all night #4 kept them in it.

As i said above, the real killer was the 12 men on the field coming out of a freaking timeout. Favre should have never even had to throw the ball in that situation.

I just have a hard time faulting the guy that kept them in the game all night, despite his one mistake.

 

[GodGodGodBathia]

Although Favre is a veteran hall of famer, he played like a rookie on that last series. Yes, he did get them in a position to win with a great through down the middle of the field, but he was responsible for throwing away the chance to seal the deal at the end. I'm certainly not blaming the loss on Favre; it's inexcusable for your star playmakers to be fumbling as much as they did. However, you just do not lob a ball across the middle of the field when you are running to the sideline. But in reality, it shouldn't have even reached that point. Favre should have noticed the 12th man, run a play up the middle of the field for one or two yards, and put the game on the foot of your clutch kicker. Some of the Vikings fans I know are already melting down about the officials (some have called, some have posted on Facebook, etc) that the refs were horrible to the Vikings during the game. While the pass interference call was complete bogus and could be considered a turning point in the game, the reviews (which shouldn't have really taken place in the first place) couldn't be reversed because it is impossible to tell where a ball actually is on the field and where it should be spotted when looking at it in replay unless the camera is directly on the ball, which it wasn't. The pass that was bobbled did hit the ground, but it appeared to me that the receiver gained control of it at the last minute. I could see the referees overturning the call and I can see a lot of calls going in different directions throughout the game, but Vikings fans: you only have your team to blame for this loss.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

It was a terrible play. I also believe they should have never been in that position. Favre kept them in the game despite losing two fumbles inside the NO 10, and one inside their own 10. That is a huge swing and despite getting leveled all night #4 kept them in it.

As i said above, the real killer was the 12 men on the field coming out of a freaking timeout. Favre should have never even had to throw the ball in that situation.

I just have a hard time faulting the guy that kept them in the game all night, despite his one mistake.

The point that many of us are trying to make is that despite everything that had happened up to that point, the Vikings still had a better than even chance to win the game. Then the Gunslinger showed up.

 

[iahawk20]

Although Favre is a veteran hall of famer, he played like a rookie on that last series. Yes, he did get them in a position to win with a great through down the middle of the field, but he was responsible for throwing away the chance to seal the deal at the end. I'm certainly not blaming the loss on Favre; it's inexcusable for your star playmakers to be fumbling as much as they did. However, you just do not lob a ball across the middle of the field when you are running to the sideline. But in reality, it shouldn't have even reached that point. Favre should have noticed the 12th man, run a play up the middle of the field for one or two yards, and put the game on the foot of your clutch kicker. Some of the Vikings fans I know are already melting down about the officials (some have called, some have posted on Facebook, etc) that the refs were horrible to the Vikings during the game. While the pass interference call was complete bogus and could be considered a turning point in the game, the reviews (which shouldn't have really taken place in the first place) couldn't be reversed because it is impossible to tell where a ball actually is on the field and where it should be spotted when looking at it in replay unless the camera is directly on the ball, which it wasn't. The pass that was bobbled did hit the ground, but it appeared to me that the receiver gained control of it at the last minute. I could see the referees overturning the call and I can see a lot of calls going in different directions throughout the game, but Vikings fans: you only have your team to blame for this loss.

Well said and good luck to your Colts!

 

[iahawk20]

The point that many of us are trying to make is that despite everything that had happened up to that point, the Vikings still had a better than even chance to win the game. Then the Gunslinger showed up.

Could you imagine this board if Iowa would have been called for 12 men on the field like that? KOK would have 485 threads ripping him.

 

[kuhntz]

Childress is a terrible coach. No way you should ever be able to screw up first down at the opp 33 with 1 min to go and 2 timeouts in a tie game. End up having to put yourself in position to have to throw on third down in an attempt to get into fg range. TERRIBLE.

The officiating in overtime was horrible. The first review could have move the ball back even further for the 4th down play. The 4th down play he clearly lost the 1st down spot when Greenway knocked the ball loose. The "interference" was a phantom call....PERIOD. Someone tried to state that Lieber didn't look back for the ball....but he never touched the Tight End either. The guy fell over on his own while backpedaling reaching for a ball 10 yards overthrown. Uncatchable.....and there wasn't any contact.

The incompletion...I understand why it wasn't overturned because there wasn't conlusive evidence.....but that was a trapped ball. Watch how the ball moves in relation to hitting the ground.

All this adds up to one thing. Me not watching the NFL much in the future. Its the same reason I stopped watching the NBA. The officiating deciding playoff games in horribly called fashion. Overtime tonight reminded me too much of LA vs Portland and LA vs Sac in the Western conference finals. Not even entertaining to watch as a sports fan without a dog in the fight.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

Could you imagine this board if Iowa would have been called for 12 men on the field like that? KOK would have 485 threads ripping him.

True, but there wasn't any reason for the Vikings to try and get cute and run a play where Favre has to throw back across the field while running to his right. It's just asking for trouble.

 

[iahawk20]

True, but there wasn't any reason for the Vikings to try and get cute and run a play where Favre has to throw back across the field while running to his right. It's just asking for trouble.

I am with you there. I'd rather risk Longwell from 55.

 

[GodGodGodBathia]

The officiating in overtime was horrible. The first review could have move the ball back even further for the 4th down play. The 4th down play he clearly lost the 1st down spot when Greenway knocked the ball loose. The "interference" was a phantom call....PERIOD. Someone tried to state that Lieber didn't look back for the ball....but he never touched the Tight End either. The guy fell over on his own while backpedaling reaching for a ball 10 yards overthrown. Uncatchable.....and there wasn't any contact.

The incompletion...I understand why it wasn't overturned because there wasn't conlusive evidence.....but that was a trapped ball. Watch how the ball moves in relation to hitting the ground.

All this adds up to one thing. Me not watching the NFL much in the future. Its the same reason I stopped watching the NBA. The officiating deciding playoff games in horribly called fashion. Overtime tonight reminded me too much of LA vs Portland and LA vs Sac in the Western conference finals. Not even entertaining to watch as a sports fan without a dog in the fight.

As a viewer with no stake in the game, I agree that the Pass Interference call was ridiculous and that the league should review their Pass Interference rules, since the receiver fell down on his own, there was virtually no contact between him and the DB, and the ball was uncatchable. Having said that, the officials did a good job on the rest of the calls that were reviewed. It's really really really really hard to change the spot of the ball when you're looking to change it just a few inches because you can't tell where the ball is on the field unless the camera is looking in a straight line at it, which it wasn't. You're right; the ball DID hit the ground, but that's allowed, believe it or not. The receiver was bobbling the ball at first but it appeared to me that he gained control of the ball and got his arms somewhat underneath it before it made contact. I understand how some Viking fans could be upset with the officials, but they really only have their own team to blame. The referees didn't rip the ball out of the star running back's grip; the referees didn't force Brett Favre to lob a gift across the middle of the field on the last series; the referees didn't accidentally have a 12th man in the Viking's huddle-Minnesota had every opportunity to put the game away and didn't.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

As a viewer with no stake in the game, I agree that the Pass Interference call was ridiculous and that the league should review their Pass Interference rules, since the receiver fell down on his own, there was virtually no contact between him and the DB, and the ball was uncatchable. Having said that, the officials did a good job on the rest of the calls that were reviewed. It's really really really really hard to change the spot of the ball when you're looking to change it just a few inches because you can't tell where the ball is on the field unless the camera is looking in a straight line at it, which it wasn't. You're right; the ball DID hit the ground, but that's allowed, believe it or not. The receiver was bobbling the ball at first but it appeared to me that he gained control of the ball and got his arms somewhat underneath it before it made contact. I understand how some Viking fans could be upset with the officials, but they really only have their own team to blame. The referees didn't rip the ball out of the star running back's grip; the referees didn't force Brett Favre to lob a gift across the middle of the field on the last series; the referees didn't accidentally have a 12th man in the Viking's huddle-Minnesota had every opportunity to put the game away and didn't.

1. I'm with you on that one, it looked like he had it pinned against his hip/thigh as he came down.

2. Couldn't have said that much better, but a better illustration of just how bad the Vikings gagged this one away is to be found in the box score.

NFL - Minnesota Vikings/New Orleans Saints Box Score Sunday January 24, 2010 - Yahoo! Sports

 

[russellhess]

Announcers said it looked like the Vikings were trying to confuse the Saints with the 12 men call. If it is true that Childress decided to confuse the Saints by running some sort of diversion coming out of a timeout, I think that is the largest example of hubris I may have seen from a coach. At that point, just let your players win the game, don't try some sort of great coaching jedi mind trick. Let Longwell kick the 50 yarder if nothing else.

In press conference, Favre said the play he threw the interception on was the same play called before the 12th man penalty. For Childresses sake, I hope not.

Vikes played so well despite their miscues, it is hard to take this loss. But if they had to lose to someone, I am glad it was the Saints. Go make your history Saints!

Skol Vikings!

 

[HawkForce]

I'm starting to dislike the NFL...I don't like the Vikings...but man did they get hosed by the officials. NO WAY is that PI...1. contact wasn't really made, 2. it was UNCATCHABLE! Then don't get me started when Greenway knocked the ball back! WOW.

That's so bad

 

[GodGodGodBathia]

I'm starting to dislike the NFL...I don't like the Vikings...but man did they get hosed by the officials. NO WAY is that PI...1. contact wasn't really made, 2. it was UNCATCHABLE! Then don't get me started when Greenway knocked the ball back! WOW.

That's so bad

I agree with you on the PI call. I understand why the NFL has all these rules about high hits, helmet to helmet, defenseless receiver, and no touching of a receiver allowed or it's a pass interference. It seems like they're taking a lot of the physicality out of the game to me, but when see someone like Pat White get taken out from an (incidental) helmet to helmet hit, I'm glad that the NFL has some of these rules. I think that the NFL needs rules that protect players from blatant attempts at injury and overly aggressive hits that don't limit the physical nature of the game. That being said, the ball was uncatchable and no call should have been made, but I'm not going to criticize the official; he was on the field and looking right at it, I wasn't. Maybe the pass could have been caught if the receiver jumped and the referee thought that Leber didn't allow the receiver to jump up because of the contact.

I also agree with you that the ball did come loose and certainly could have been spotted back, but again I don't know how the officials are supposed to spot it unless the camera is looking directly down the line where the ball is. It's like if you hold a pen or pencil and look at it from either the back or the front; you can't tell how long it is, but if you turn it sideways you have a much better view of it and can determine how long it is. Officials aren't allowed to take shots in the dark, which is what they would be doing by spotting the ball where they THOUGHT it was on the field.