Minnesota's Blown Game Vs. New Orleans

I'm watching the NFC championship football game on TV, see, and I'm pulling for the Minnesota Vikings all the way. Not that I have anything against their opponents, the New Orleans Saints. But I predicted before the season that the Vikings would make it to the Super Bowl and, besides, they have as star wide receiver University of Florida standout Percy Harvin. And, of course, there's veteran quarterback Brett Favre, against whom I rooted last year, only because he played then for my Miami Dolphins' divisional rival New York Jets. So, anyway...

It's late in the fourth quarter and the game is tied 28-28. Minnesota has the ball and is showing every appearance of going down the field and scoring. And why not? Just going by yards gained during the game, the Vikings have been dominating the Saints. The only factor that has kept New Orleans in the game to this point is the fact that Minnesota has committed four very costly turnovers SO far. But back to the late fourth quarter. Favre, to no one's surprise, has led his team to N.O.'s 33 yard line and a first down with 49 seconds to go in regulation time and two timeouts left for them. Then his coach Brad Childress takes over and calls two consecutive running plays that gain nothing, but cause them to waste time. On third down, the Vikings are called for a foolish penalty: having twelve players in the huddle. This essentially takes them close to being completely out of field goal range. Favre is now in a position where he has to throw, and the Saints defense knows this and covers the Vikings receivers well. And as the play develops, Favre throws an interception. Regulation ends, the Saints win the coin toss, receive the ball first in OT, march down the field, and kick a field goal to win it. With Favre coming out of it all as a scapegoat for Minnesota.

But although Brett Favre could have made better choices with that last play of his (including finally running a little and trying to go out of bounds), it was the foolish play-calling from the sidelines and ridiculous penalty that set it up. Favre should have been free to do what he had been doing all evening: throwing quick passes down the middle for 10-15 yards. Minnesota would have easily been in position to kick a relatively short field goal with their experienced and accurate kicker.

Why do coaches suddenly abandon what has worked for them the entire game at its conclusion and allow the other team to come back on them? I've seen this happen year after year with Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins. They'd be stopping their opponent the entire game and then during the last two minutes, they would change to a "prevent defense" and allow their foes to march down the file in short "bites" to get a winning score. Or how about the time in 2002 when Miami, trying to hold on to a playoff spot (and a small lead) against New England had the ball late in the game, deep in its own territory. And coach Dave Wannstedt, ignoring the facts that (1) he was supposed to be running out the clock and (2) he had a proven instrument for doing so in star running back Ricky Williams, instead had his quarterback throw three straight passes. All fell incomplete, Miami punted with too much time left on the clock, New England scored and won, and Miami missed the playoffs. Such stupidity!

So New Orleans is in the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts. I'll be rooting for the Saints, but it's a shame that Brett Favre couldn't have had this one other shot at the championship.