| Fumbling six times and throwing two interceptions | | | | Buckner-esque. Favre's performance, while subpar, |
| won't produce conference championships. I'm not | | | | wasn't surprising. I witnessed the 4th and 26 |
| one to argue the better team lost, because if | | | | miracle back in 2004. What's often lost in that |
| they were better, they'd have won. But Sunday's | | | | game was Favre's awful interception in overtime. |
| Vikings team? Whoooooff. How many | | | | That interception led to the Eagles' victory. The |
| touchdowns do they win by if the Saints don't | | | | same was true two years ago when Favre |
| figure out the fumble button on the joystick? At | | | | handed the Giants a trip to the Super Bowl. |
| least two, right? Regardless, that was one of the | | | | Favre's done this before. To be surprised would |
| sloppiest playoff games I've ever seen. The | | | | be naive. It's equivalent to finding out a politician |
| officiating was dreadful, the coaching was | | | | lied or your investment portfolio tanked. |
| questionable, and the mistakes were endless. | | | | The fumbles, on the other hand, I can't believe. |
| Maybe we should just give the Jets a second | | | | Six, count them, 1 2 3 4 5... six fumbles. I'm sure |
| shot at the Colts for the Super Bowl. | | | | there've been more in a single game, but that's |
| Of the final four teams, New Orleans was the | | | | the worst I've ever seen. Even though only three |
| team I couldn't bear to see in Miami. Now, | | | | were ultimately lost, two were surrendered inside |
| because Minnesota resorted to earplugs, the | | | | the ten yard line. Inside the ten! That's at least six |
| Saints will headline the sports world for the next | | | | points in a game the Vikings lost by... hold on, let |
| two weeks, and longer if they upset the Colts. I | | | | me check... oh that's right... they lost by three... in |
| might have to hibernate. I knew this would | | | | overtime!!!! Brett Favre and the Vikings had a |
| happen. It was inevitable. Interceptions, fumbles, | | | | Super Bowl berth in their grasp and literally let it |
| earplugs; even Brett Favre can't overcome that | | | | slip through their hands. |
| lineup. | | | | I know I'm supposed to praise the Saints for |
| Let's start with Brad Childress' game management | | | | hanging tough and pulling this one out. I can't do it. |
| at the close of the 4th quarter. Forgive me if I'm | | | | Please explain to me where it would have been |
| wrong, but when did a 51 yard field become a | | | | tough for New Orleans to "hang around." |
| comfortable distance for a game-winning kick? | | | | Turnovers offer the quickest momentum change |
| Two conservative run calls for no gain were | | | | in football. If anything, we should be praising |
| baffling. Even in a dome, you have to give your | | | | Minnesota for hanging tough. Five turnovers plus |
| kicker at least six more yards there. Not moving | | | | three more fumbles is more than enough to |
| the ball on first or second down forced the | | | | make a team say, "It's just not our day," and |
| Vikings into a difficult position on third down. Third | | | | give up and go home. The Vikings continued to |
| and long (even longer after the penalty) allowed | | | | battle and almost overcame a horrific |
| the Saints to be more aggressive in forcing a | | | | performance. The Saints didn't hang around; like |
| mistake. Childress' whole sequence there was a | | | | an annoying friend at a boring party, the Vikings |
| disaster, even for an Andy Reid disciple... and | | | | wouldn't let them leave. |
| that's saying something. I understand running the | | | | I've read a lot of blame heaped upon the officials |
| ball to keep the clock moving. I agree with | | | | too. Arguing they made sure the New Orleans |
| keeping the clock running. However, you can do | | | | fairytale didn't end. I agree they blew the pass |
| that with a screen or the inside slants/curls that | | | | interference call at the end and some lousy calls |
| were successful all game, anything to move the | | | | elsewhere. However, if the game were fixed, the |
| ball. Another first down should have been the | | | | NFL would want Favre in the big game. While it's |
| priority with running the clock as the secondary | | | | hard to excuse such an atrocious call with the |
| goal. Childress' decision to prioritize eating the clock | | | | game on the line (the pass interference call), the |
| cost his team a shot at the Super Bowl. Get in | | | | officials weren't as awful as either fan base would |
| reasonable field goal range, and then worry about | | | | argue. Alright, that's enough. My head is spinning. I |
| the clock. Not vice versa. | | | | can't keep going. I'll cut to the New Orleans locker |
| Minnesota's turnovers will also haunt them for a | | | | room to close this week's recap (this may have |
| long, long, long time. Their performance was Bill | | | | actually happened)... |