It’s Sunday
January 12th the day I am writing this one day after the Vikings
season ended on a terrible note. It had been all week I heard comparisons of
1987 playoff run as the Vikes shocked the Saints them the 49ers before falling
to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship game.
I watched
last week all the experts take the Saints and then the Vikes shock the world
beating the Saints in OT. I watched again the pregame to the San Francisco and
the majority of the experts picked the 49ers.
I really
felt the 49ers defense was much better than the Saints especially the 49ers
front seven. I came in optimistic with nothing to lose as one again the Vikes
faces tough odds taking on the one seed 49ers.
It had been
a long day waiting for the game at 3:35 as I watched countless hours on TV of
game breakdowns and listening to facts and figures.
It was
finally game time and once again the Vikings start the game with the ball. I
thought this would be a great chance to show the 49ers we came to play. I guess
I was wrong three very painful plays to start with little or no yards and the
Vikings were forced to punt.
Ok, defense
it’s your turn to show the 49ers you mean business and you will stop the 49ers.
One problem the 49ers did not follow my hope in fact they moved the ball so
easy it was if we had no defense even on the field. I was very upset, mad and
confused on just how easy 49ers quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo took his offense
right down the field and it’s 7-0 49ers.
Great a terrible
opening Vikings drive followed by an easy touchdown by the 49ers is a fan’s
nightmare especially in a game of this magnitude.
The Vikings
brought hope back into my life as I see Kirk Cousins throw a very nice deep
ball down the left sidelines, and maybe even a better adjustment by Stefon
Diggs to catch the ball and he walks into the endzone. My world is back in
order as the game is tied 7-7
It seemed
all day the 49ers could run the ball whenever they wanted and even a Vikings
defender tripping the back and they still fell forward 3-4 yards. I know the
commentators had mentioned that 49ers coach, Kyle Shanahan would love to have
50/50 with pass and run but I believe at one point of the game the 49ers had 30
straight runs. Their running game is impressive and even more so using a three
headed attack.
It seemed
the Vikings run game as soon as the handoff the 49ers were not very good hosts
as they rudely met Dalvin Cook at the point of handoff.
It was a
strange first half as the 49ers had gone up 14-7 but thanks to a Eric Kendricks
giving the Vikes good field position which they get three out of. It’s halftime
and as badly as I felt we got outplayed it’s only 14-10.
The second
half was as ugly as it gets watching the Vikings offense do absolutely nothing
as I believe 9 drives and there were 7 three and outs.
The 49ers
offense didn’t necessarily light it up but they really did not have to as they
played a great ball control offense and let me feeling sick to my stomach.
It was a day
of not only terrible performance but also see things happen to the Vikes that
left me shaking my head. I look back at the first half with the 49ers in 3rd
down and long the Vikes get great pressure. I see Garoppolo throw a wounded
duck with three Vikings defenders around and somehow a 49er dives and makes a
sick catch.
It was again
the Vikings defense stepped up in one key drive forcing a three and out and a
punt. I see the ball punted and I could tell Marcus Sherels struggled finding
it with and it hits Sherels bounces and 49ers recover. Oh no wee had a small
chance for a glimmer of hope of maybe finding a spark. It wasn’t meant to be
and the 49ers cash in with a touchdown really ending my dreams of a trip to a
potential Super Bowl.
It was just
the 2nd to last home game vs the Green Bay Packers on national TV
where the Vikings offense totaled an embarrassing 7 first downs for the game
and less than 200 yards in offense.
It’s not
even a month later and as I am watching the game and really never realizing the
Vikings had five first downs for the game in the 4th quarter. I then
see a stat put up on the TV screen that six was the worst in NFL history in
post season play.
I now have
to worry because in my mind the game was lost but please oh please do not set
an NFL record.
I thank the
San Francisco 49ers for allowing us to get the first downs by playing their backups
and also playing more zone defense. The Vikings finished with a measly 7 first
downs which is good for 3rd worst so at least it’s not the worst.
The offense
was absolutely miserable and made me want to get sick. It seemed every drop
back Cousins was either sacked or harassed causing terrible throws.
As I
mentioned the 49ers put their backups in and they even got two sacks. It was an
ugly day and left me wondering what the offseason moves that need to be made.
It was also
a loss which was the 30th playoff loss in Vikings history which puts
them #1 in playoff losses.
There is so
much blame for yesterday’s loss but won’t point the finger at anyone as it was
a terrible and embarrassing loss.
I always ask
myself if we are going to lose is it easier to deal with in an OT loss or
getting dismantled?
The answer
is a very easy getting dismantled although I never want to see the team lose.
It’s hard to not like the 49ers chances of going to the Super Bowl because if
they play like that next Sunday I can’t see either Seattle or Green Bay beating
them.
Thank you
for reading
Purplestick
The life of
a Vikings fan is hard to know just where it started. I have loved football my
whole life yet never played a down as it is too physical and at times looks
painful.
I think in
my opinion is when I moved to Owatonna in 1987 knowing the team was training 45
minutes away in Mankato. Is this the reason?
I f so I am
not sure why I did not make my first ever trip to Mankato until 1994. It was an
experience going but I was shy yes I said shy meeting players and just getting
to know what the experience of Training Camp was all about. I learned year
after year it’s not just going to practices its meeting fans from not only the
United States but indeed fans come from all over the world such as Germany and
England is what I met.
I am not
sure how I decided to approach the venture of being a season ticket holder but
I guess you talk about it enough you get guts and plunge in and has it ever been
worth it with so many memories good and bad
I was able
to go to a few games through the year’s one or two and loved it but it wasn’t
season tickets. I remember in 1997 my dad called and said he had a coworker who
had season tickets but couldn’t use them that year for unknown reasons so I
bought them from her just for the one season.
I will never
forget it as I bought two so each week I brought someone with. It was crazy
because it was in the Metrodome and I don’t remember the section number but
they were row one on the end zone. I would never do these seats again for two
reasons and one is cost and two is when the team was right in front of me it
was awesome but when they were going the other way I found myself watching the
big screen seeing what yard line they were on.
In 1998 was
the year I decided to make a commitment to season tickets and that was the year
never to forget. Anyone remember a certain number 84? Yes, Randy Moss’s rookie
year. It was a season where the Vikings offense broke an NFL record of point by
a team. It was a 15-1 year and playoffs all in my first year as a committed
season ticket holder.
The Vikes
get a bye then win at home and host the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Title game
with winner moving on to the Super Bowl. I was so confident we were going to
Miami I started getting airline, hotel and anything else I could get lined up.
I will never
forget the game including taking a knee before half which I did not like. The
Falcons make a comeback and we go to overtime. I remember before OT Gary
Anderson lining up to kick the win that would guarantee a trip to Miami. I
remember myself along with 65,000 plus other fans chanting Super Bowl, Super
Bowl, Super Bowl. The snap, the hold the kick and I was jumping up and down
because I swore it went in but I saw the refs motion no good. It was a gut wrenching moment. It’s easy to
blame Gary but I look at so many missed opportunities in a team sport.
It was awful
watching Falcons kicker, Morten Anderson drill the game winning kick in
overtime and I watched Falcons’ Coach Dan Reeves doing the dirty bird on the
Metrodome stage.
It was an
absolutely devastating day in my life as a Vikings fan but time does heal and
the next season soon will be here.
I mentioned
heart break earlier and yes plenty such as the 1987 NFC Championship game and
seeing Darrin Nelson drop a touchdown in the end zone and the season was over.
I went to St. Louis for a playoff game s the tea known as the fastest team on
turf and yes they were as I made the long trip home from St. Louis after being
eliminated.
My wife and
I went to the Superdome in 2010 and watched the Saints kick the game winning
field goal in overtime to send the Saints to the Super Bowl making a long flight
home from Louisiana.
My wife and
I went to Green Bay for the playoff game when Christian Ponder was hurt and Joe
Webb was the quarterback. It was my first and only time to Lambeau and again
made for a long trip back to Owatonna.
I am a
lifelong and proud Vikings fan and losing definitely stinks and hurts like hell
but the next day I get out of bed and life does continue maybe a little slower
sometimes but it does roll on.
As they say
with all bad comes good and I have had plenty of that and just keeps my purple
blood flowing,
1998 seeing
Randy Moss come onto the scene and being at the games seeing it in person was
incredible. 2009 seeing Brett Favre quarterback the Vikings including watching
him play at home vs the Green Bay Packers with the Vikes winning. It made him
the first quarterback ever to beat all 32 teams and I was there.
The 49ers
game that year with Favre dropping back with 49ers all over him and he find
Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone for a catch I will never forget.
The San
Diego Chargers game when Adrian Peterson broke the all-time rushing yards in a
game with a monster 2nd half.
The game
this season with the Vikings being down 20-0 to Denver at halftime and the
Vikings come back to win.
I have had
season tickets 19 years and been in all three stadiums: (Metrodome,TCF Bank and
US Bank) and proud to say I have only missed four games ever. My daughter got married
on a preseason game day, my other daughter’s traveling soccer team made and won
the state championship and I had foot surgery costing me two games. You can see
these are four very good reasons to miss a game.
I have been
to 27 straight years of Vkings Training Camp and have a basement room loaded
from floor to ceiling in Vikings gear. I am not the biggest Vikings fan in the
world but I do love the team with all my heart.
It was just
last Saturday the Vikings traveled to New Orleans and I knew we had a little
hope with the odds so stacked against us. I see Adam Thielen fumble and have a
bad feeling but the more you watched the more you believed. The touchdown catch
by Rudy and all was right in this purple world of mine. It’s an emotion that
can’t be described.
Saturday vs the
49ers will be tough but the way this whacky season has gone all things are possible.
I am a fan win or lose and winning pf course really helps but no matter what
whether the Vikings are Super Bowl champs I be ready and geared up for 2020.
Thanks you
for reading
Purplestick
The
Minnesota Vikings came into Sunday’s game on a two game slide and both games
were home disasters so the Vikes get sent to New Orleans as a six seed. Oh my the
Vikings are facing one of the hottest teams in the NFL in New Orleans who are
just averaging 40 points in a game.
I watched
Fox Pregame like I do every Sunday I am home and watched the Pregame hosts all
picks the Saints and Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long even went so far as saying
the Saints will win by 17. Terry Bradshaw even made a comment where the Vikings
have no chance and the way the Vikings had looked the last two weeks it made me
worry.
I watched
Saturday the Houston Texans make an incredible comeback and win in OT and then
Tennessee knocks out New England. Is this the weekend slanting to a Vikings win
with the mentality of the Vikings vs the world?
The Vkings
win the coin toss and how many times do we see the team defer to the 2nd
half well the Vikings shocked me and took the ball to start. I love this call
on the road being a huge underdog. The way the first series started for the
Vikings saw a nice run by Dalvin Cook but then the unthinkable catch by Adam
Thielen and fumble only to see the Saints return and start at the Vikings 37. I
believe a lot of big defensive series by the Vikings but maybe the biggest was
holding the Saints to a Field Goal. What a win for the Vikings defense.
I thought
the Vikings offensive line played their worst game at home vs the Green Bay
Packers but Sunday’s performance was simply awesome. The running game was awesome
by Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison each gauging big runs but again can’t run
without the blocking. I also thought the Vikings overall pas protection was
unbelievable with a few exceptions. The first half Saints Cam Jordan was really
a non-factor.
I am usually
worried about Drew Brees but Sunday the player who succeeded too much was
Tayson Hill who killed the Vikings defense alone which I can’t believe as Brees
had historical low first half.
The Saints
go up 10-3 but the Vikings come back to get a Field goal which to me is huge
getting any points on the hostile environment.
The Vikings
and Dalvin Cook drive and get the most important touchdown of the season
putting the purple up 13-10. I had mentioned earlier the defense coming up with
an early big stop well this time Saints kicker, Will Lutz misses a field goal
wide right giving the Vikings a huge break as it could have been 13-13 at
halftime.
The Vikings
come out and stop the Saints and take the ball and drive going up 20-10. I am
feeling better but by no means comfortable as I have been a fan so long and
know my heart can be ripped but I must believe.
The defense
was short both Mackenzie Alexander and Mike Hughes coming in which gave me
extreme stress as I feared the Saints will open it up throwing left and right
and I knew the Vikings defensive line had to play of their lives. I could not
be happier with the effort as I saw Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen both
played a monster game.
Drew Brees
had not fumbled all year until long armed Hunter knocks the ball free and the
Vikings recover. Is this a sign the upset is going to happen? The Saints only
had 8 turnovers on the year and the Vikings force two with the first half
interception by Anthony Harris and then the fumble.
I still can’t
believe as I type this just how good the Vikings did look most if not all of
the game. The running game, the passing game and pass rush were incredible.
There was so
much I loved but players concerned me and that was Stefon Diggs and his
tantrums and Xavier Rhodes blowing up on the sideline after getting burned
badly on a touchdown.
Diggs in an incredible
athlete and love his catches and Rhodes played as good as I have seen in quite
a while but we obviously do not need this especially in crunch time.
The fourth
quarter is as much as my heart can take as I turn 55 on January 13th
but when it’s 20-17 and Drew Brees decided to get hot and there they go to get
a regulation ending field goal sending the game to Overtime.
The Saints
big three, Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas were all non-factors in my opinion
for much of the game making me still continue to wonder if this would be the
upset of the new decade.
I do look
back and wonder about the Saints clock management and the end of regulation not
using a timeout nut instead a 10 second run off they were ok with. I am in
shock sitting on my couch feeling the worst is to happen but we survived and
the field goal ties it
It was
2009-10 I was at the Saints-Vikings NFC Championship and overtime it went. I
remember watching the Saints win the coin toss and taking it for the game
winning field goal. It was the next year the rule was changed and both teams
get the ball unless the first drive ends in a touchdown.
The Vikings
Everson Griffen calls heads on the coin toss and here we go a Vikings touchdown
and it’s over.
My hands always
sweat game but this overtime I could have wrung my hands out. What a drive including
a play call that shocked the heck out of me. I see Kirk Cousins drop back and
throw it deep and see Thielen make an unreal over the shoulder catch and off my
couch I came screaming, “He caught it.” I still can’t believe a pass play was
called.
The Vikings
are on the two and my heart is beating out of my body and then I see two runs
to the left by Dalvin. Its 3rd and goal and I see Kyle Rudolph up on
top one on one I prayed to myself to please throw it up Cousins because Rudolph
will not be denied.
Boom game
over and the Vikings match out of New Orleans with their first ever overtime
win in playoff history.
I am still
shocked an offensive genius, Sean Payton looked like he was in shock most of
the game with the game plan Coach Zimmer came up with. I have been so critical
of no adjustments well Sunday was a game of adjustments.
Thank you
for reading
Purplestick
