10 observations: Saints beat Vikes in wild one
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
10 observations: Saints beat Vikes in wild one
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Saints knocked off the Vikings in overtime to earn a spot in the Super Bowl against the Colts.
Earlier, we posted our 10 observations from Indy's win over the Jets.
1. With just about 1:06 left, things were looking good for the Vikings. They had just driven 46 yards and were creeping into field-goal range with the game tied at 28. But what followed was as disastrous a stretch as you'll find at the end of a football game. It started with back-to-back runs, which I didn't understand. Even if they picked up a few yards, the Vikings were looking at a 45-to-50-yard field goal. Don't you have to be a little more aggressive there? Isn't that why you brought in Brett Favre in the first place? Naturally, neither rushing attempt picked up any yardage. After a timeout, Minnesota was flagged for 12 men in the huddle. Unbelievable. I just kept thinking about the insults that would be hurled at Andy Reid if that happened here. Favre, of course, finished off the nightmarish stretch with a terrible interception, sending the game into OT.
2. Some will point to the Favre INT as where the game was lost. There's no downplaying it. That was huge. Had Favre run with the football, Ryan Longwell would have likely had a shot at a 40-yard field goal. But the earlier turnovers were what cost the Vikings. In the fourth quarter, Bernard Berrian lost a fumble at the New Orleans 18. And the Percy Harvin fumble at the start of the fourth set up the Saints' final touchdown. The fumbled exchange to Adrian Peterson at the end of the first half was enormous. As every TV analyst will undoubtedly remind you Monday morning, it's hard to win football games when you turn the ball over five times. Especially when two of those come inside the opponent's 20.
3. Here's the deal on Favre. The media coverage and his retirement flip-flopping have done such a number on many of you that you couldn't even enjoy what you were watching Sunday night. Regardless of what you think of him, at 40 years old, Favre delivered a memorable performance. Did you see him at his post-game press conference? It was like the guy had just been in a brawl. I don't think he was being dramatic. Favre took a pounding. And he just hung in there, delivering strike after strike for much of the game. But instead of appreciating that, it seemed like many took joy in his final INT and spent much of the game focusing on Joe Buck's man-crush on Favre. Like I said, I've been annoyed by all the coverage in the past too, but I think people are going overboard with the anti-Favre sentiment.
4. The final numbers for Drew Brees: 17-for-31 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. But anyone who was paying attention knows that was far from his best performance. Brees was uncharacteristically off-target on several throws. He'll need to connect on those for the Saints to hang with the Colts in the Super Bowl.
5. In a pre-game interview, Favre described to Fox's Pam Oliver the proper way to smack a teammate on the rear end. "You don't want to cuff it," Favre said. This is the kind of information I want from my pre-game shows. Nice job out of them.
6. Two things that my Dad requests we get rid of before next season: Frank Caliendo and American Idol performers (specifically the male ones) singing the National Anthem. Who can make this happen for him?
7. Brad Childress' squad threw on the first five offensive plays and seven of the first eight. Adrian Peterson didn't have a carry until the ninth play from scrimmage. Somewhere, Andy Reid was smiling.
8. I counted at least seven Deanna Favre shots and no Kim Kardashian shots. Was she there, or not? Did anyone ask Reggie Bush about this afterwards?
9. Peterson put the coaches in an impossible situation. Officially, he was charged with two fumbles. But that really could have been three. If it were me, I don't think I'd have been able to put him back in the game.
10. Brees' pre-game pump-up routine is greater than Keith Brooking's... Remember how every announcer this season said the Eagles were the best screen team in the NFL? The Saints sure looked like they belong in that discussion on the TD to Pierre Thomas early... Sean Payton knows how to create mismatchces. Bush against a linebacker for a 28-yard gain in the second... Special teams were huge for the Saints. A 61-yard kickoff return set up the third-quarter touchdown. And of course the game-winning field goal... Big game out of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Four catches for 83 yards, including a tremendous one-handed grab in the third... Great job by Bernard Berrian to come back and make a play on the ball for 30 yards on third down in the fourth quarter.
Comment removed.
Come on guys. Favre plays hard ut he just doesn't know that it is done. In his prime, he could make the throws and put a team in his back. He is older now and he has been making dumb, "watch me" throw the ball into triple coverage. He does not make clutch plays when the game is on the line. that part of his game stopped several years ago. It is a sin watching a great player stay just a little, or a lot, too long.— SlinkTMP
Yeah wiff, McFarce screws up so bring McNabb into it. That'll make it all right that McFarce threw away two straight Championship games with INTs. You are about as wimpy as they come. Historic ineptitude. HISTORIC bafoonery by McFarce! Now comes the next chapter. Will he or won't he. Oh, I can hardly wait for that. My little heart is just all atwitter with anticipation. Oh come back McFarce, please come back. Hahahahahahahahahhaa— tpizza- re the vikes two-minute drill... it was painfully obvious chilly is a reid disciple....AR must be very proud! ...and why has no one mentioned this...on favre's 1st pick, when he got hurt...where was the flag for hitting the qb below the knee? you know, the brady rule...it was obvious and no one has even mentioned it....
- lonewolf - if you are going to make a point please get your facts correct. Favre never won the SB MVP. Desmond Howard had two returns for TD's. Additionally, McNabb had three turnovers in two games where as Favre had three in the game yesterday but you call McNabb a turnover machine. You call McNabb a choke artist but then call Favre a hero because he was a coin flip away. It should have never have come to that. And to cap it off, the last three passes that Favre has thrown for the Packers, Jets (well, he threw a desperation pass)and Vikes have been picks. McNabb played like garbage the last two games but if you are going to crown Favre and chastise McNabb, state the true facts and not the ones in your head. Thanks and Go Birds!!— oharabri
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
