I have been
sked by so many people what was being at US Bank Stadium like watching the
historical comeback.
Yes it’s been
a few days since but the game still is fresh In my mind and may stay like that
for quite some time,
I start with
offering my pregame thinking as I know the Vikings are 4.5 point favorite and
know the Vikings are 9-0 when favored.
I tell you I
walked in US Bank with the best feeling as I know a win and I will get to see
the NFC North champions and see the hat and T-shirt.
Yes, I was
pumped with really no fear of a letdown and I was just plain excited. The
excitement pregame was even high for me as I see Tommy Kramer and Ahmad Rashad
walking up to the Gjallahorn to sound it and lead the SKOL chant.
The crowd
stands as one as the Vikings kick it off and there is the boom as Paul Allen
says. I watched in disbelief as the Colt return man just sliced up the Vikings
special teams on his way to a long return setting up the Colts in great field
position.
It seemed
that was the trend the rest of the first half with so many things going right
for the Colts and wrong for my favorite team.
I was at the
Dallas Cowboy debacle and thought that was horrible but somehow this first half
seemed worse. My wife leans over to me and says this is the worst football I
have ever seen and you know I couldn’t disagree.
The first
half was so much booing by the fans and yet once in a while I heard cheers. I
thought what on earth can people be cheering for? Here I find out the paper
airplanes people made and tossed the cheers were for the plane making the field.
It wasn’t too much longer and I saw security up in the upper levels looking for
the offenders.
It was
finally halftime and all I could do was shake my head in disbelief. I came in
so confident it hurt to see this awful performance. Yes fans let the team know
just what they thought by thousands of boos.
The halftime
was Mascots vs youth football which was interesting watching mascots stiff arm
kids to the ground. I guess I am not too much of a fan of this yearly halftime
but that’s only my opinion.
The second
half was about to start and I thought if we can get one touchdown not a field goal
it would be a good start I guess an obvious statement.
I am
thinking to myself the Dallas- Indianapolis game where Dallas scored 33 points
in the 4th quarter so I guess anything is possible.
I really
thought seeing the first couple drives the Vikings offense looked like they
would not be stopped. The thing is could the 32nd ranked Vikings
defense make not one stop but every Colts drive would have to be a stop.
I really
thought the Vikings D looked as good as they have in a long time as I actually
saw several blitzes and penetration by the Vikings defensive line.
The Vikings
made it 36-21 and I really thought we had a chance but wondered when Vikings
Coach KOC would go for two.
I am not
going to go into all the missed calls by the refs as that has been beaten into
the ground. I will say the one fumble return I jumped out of my seat and yelled
watching the Vikings score. My wife grabs my jersey and says um the play was called
dead. “WHAT?” You have to be kidding.
I will say
one of the missed fumble returns for a TD drew a crowd reaction where I don’t
know if I have ever seen. I saw many beer cans thrown onto the west end zone that’s
how upset people were. There were no players in that end so security hustled to
pick everything up.
I really don’t
believe the Colts were trying to not score the Vikings D just finally made
plays.
The screen
pass from Kirk Cousins to Dalvin Cook was as good as I have ever seen as once
again I am out my chair going crazy yelling as if Dalvin could hear me.
I know it’s
a little over two minutes and the time is now to go for two to tie, I watch
Kirk drop back survey the field and find TJ Hockenson and we are tie. You can
only jump so high at your chair but I am sure I jumped max high.
The game
goes to OT and win the coin toss. My confidence we were going to win was maxed
out but then the disappointment of having to punt.
The Colts
just didn’t scare me but somehow we still needed to make a stop and they did.
The story goes like this as I have seen this before.
Yes we drive
to set up the game winning field goal on the last play of OT. I had my phone
turned to video pushed record and stepped back so my phone would not go
anywhere except my hands. It was tough as my hands were soaked in sweat as how
many times has my heart been broken with a missed kick or the other team kick a
field goal to win.
I was at the
1998 NFC Championship game and watched the Falcons break my heart and I was the
2010 NFC Championship game and watched the Saints break my heart.
Yes,
Saturday December 17th, 2022 it was the Vikings turn. Yes. I know it’s
not the playoffs but still needed to see a game winner in huge pressure.
What a day
seeing the Minnesota Vikings make history with the biggest comeback in NFL
history. The Vikings now have 10 wins of 8 points or less which is tied for
most in NFL history.
I am 57
going on 58 and hope my heart can keep on taking this because it sure is a fun
ride!!!!
SKOL
The Vikings
host the New York Giants Christmas Eve in a whiteout. I will not predict a
score just know it’s going to be one exciting Saturday afternoon. It’s the last
regular season home game so the outcome has to be in favor of the good guys.
Purplestick
