Sports Perspectives

The Vikings came, saw, but they could not pillage and conquer N’Orleans. Instead, they came, they fumbled and squandered a great chance to get to the Super Bowl for the 5th time in their history. For their part, the New Orleans Saints merely picked up the pieces left behind by Minnesota and found themselves in the big show for the first time ever.  A neat story considering Katrina.

Yet, the Saints must have been doing some hard praying prior to the game. For some reason, Minnesota had a very hard time holding on to the ball dropping it six times (twice by Adrian Peterson; one on a miscue on an exchange with Favre), three of which were recovered by New Orleans. All told, the Vikings committed five turnovers (including two interceptions by the hand of Favre) while their opponents turned it over once. That, as they say, was all she wrote.

Moral of this Minnesota story? Don’t. Cough. The. Ball. Up.

Slippery hands notwithstanding, the weirdest part of the game was when Brett Favre attempted a low percentage pass with seven seconds left leading to an interception. The Vikes were in a long field-goal range position and seemed to commit to the – gulp – run. Then suddenly, the pass from hell.  One thing leads to another, Saints win the coin toss, they march down field, get a lucky break on a completion and then convert a FG for the win. 31-28. Game over.

Of course, it wasn’t all Favre’s fault. 12 men in the huddle that cost them crucial yards? Dudes. Let’s just call them the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

It’s not the first time Favre closes out a playoff game with an INT. Recall, he did the same thing when, as a hurler for the Green Bay Packers, he threw a pick against the New York Giants a couple of years back.

It’s as if Venom (evil Spiderman) overtakes Brett Favre late in playoff games.

Classic case of what could have been for the Vikes.

Where the Vikings failed to seal the deal, the Indianapolis Colts capitalized on their chances and sent the upstart New York Jets back to New Jersey following a 30-17 win. With it went the forced 41 year-old analogy to Super Bowl III.  Good riddance.

We always hear about the apparent lack of running acumen in the Colts offense. Yet, each time they go against a supposed superior running team (both defensively and offensively) they seem to beat them at their own game. You heard it, “the Colts can’t run, they can’t stop the run, the Jets (and whoever else. Chicago Bears in SB XLI anyone?) can run and stop the run therefore…”

Stuff the “therefores.” Just like they outran the Bears in 2004 (191 yards to 111 led by Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai), the Colts spurred the Jets on the ground with 24 carries for 101 yards to 29 carries for 86. Though it should be noted the Jets lost Shonn Greene in the second half – although by that point the Colts were holding their own in the running game.

So. When will Joseph Addai – who chipped in with 80 yards for an average of 5 yards per carry – get his due?

For the next couple of weeks millions and millions of people and pundits alike will be weighing on their thoughts about the Saints-Colts showdown. If someone says the Colts can’t run, run away.

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