Another disappointment for Vikes fans

Well, another NFC Championship down the drain. These endings of being so close and failing are starting to get old. I'm old enough to have witnessed all of the Vikings futility in both the Super Bowl and Championship games. So, as a hardened veteran of disappointment, when the Vikings got a penalty for 12 men in the huddle that pushed them out of field goal range with 17 seconds left, I knew it was over. I just knew something bad was going to happen, and it did.

I'm no Brett Favre fan, he did cause a lot of pain for Vikings fans for 15 years, but I was extremely impressed with how tough that guy is. New Orleans did everything but hit him with the kitchen sink, and he still got up and kept the Vikings in the game. Unfortunately, turnovers will eventually hurt you, and his poor decision to throw a pass across his body into the middle of the field for an interception cost the Vikings a shot at winning the game.

I refuse to blame the loss on Favre though... there were other offensive players making just as many mistakes as he did. 3 fumbles by Adrian Peterson, 1 recovered by the Saints. 1 fumble by Bernard Berrian at the NO 7 yard line that cost us points. A fumble by Percy Harvin inside our own red zone that gave NO the ball at the 10, and a score to go ahead in the game.

Perhaps what stands out most to me about Brett's toughness, was when on a third and long, he dropped back to pass and was hit high and low by the Saints defense. The pass was intercepted, but Brett lay on the ground in obvious agony. He needed help to get off the field and was noticeably limping and in pain. The Viking defense (who I think played a great game) held the Saints to a 3 and out. So, less than 5 minutes after taking a brutal hit and needing help off the field, there was Brett, all bandaged up and limping his way back out on the field.

He proceeded to march the Vikings down the field for a tying touchdown, and left an indelible picture in my head of what a winner actually is. To get up from the hits he was taking and still be able to play at a high level was nothing short of amazing.

I know a lot of people will only remember the interception that may or may not have cost the Vikings the game, but what I'll remember is how a 40 year man who was hit over and over again (really poor offensive line play by the Vikings), was basically beaten black and blue, still went out there and tried to help his team win. And almost pulled it off.

I'm guessing that Brett may have played his last game in the NFL, and if he did he has nothing to hang his head about. He had a great year with the Vikings. And besides, you win as a team, and you lose as a team. I'm sure there are a lot of Vikings players that could say that they had the worst games of their lives, and yet they were still just one or two plays away from the Super Bowl.

So, much like the Chicago Cubs fans, I'll say this: Wait until next year!

'Til next time.....