Now maybe I'm slightly biased since the Vikings are my favorite team, but nobody who watched that came could possibly think the Saints deserved to win. How can a team that had twice as many yards lose a game? Maybe it was the 5 turnovers, but a much more reasonable explanation is that the NFL was conspiring against the Vikings to get the Saints, America's darlings, into the Superbowl. Somehow a team that led their conference from start to finish and went 13-3 with home-field advantage throughout is a Cinderella story. It's only a matter of time before the Yankees or USC football or the Lakers are a Cinderella story. But back to the game.
As Slick mentioned in his Brett Favre post, there were several bad calls that led to the Saints robbery of the Vikings. First there was blatant pass interference by Tracy Porter on the great catch by Visanthe Shiancoe. Porter tore Shiancoe's shirt while the ball was in the air! Could there be a more blatant Pass Interference penalty? Whatever. Shiancoe made the play and the Vikings scored a TD a few plays later.
Then later in the 3rd quarter came the play Slick alluded to: the first interception that Favre threw where he was nearly decapitated. A guy came in and hit him high, which may have been enough to draw a roughing the passer penalty on its own, but then another defensive player, possibly Bobby McCray (who by the way is the same guy who jacked up Favre earlier in the game when Favre was defenseless following a handoff), dove into Favre's knee, a clear violation of the Brady Rule. Was there a flag thrown? Of course not. That would have given the Vikings the ball back. How does Brady get a flag on that play against the Ravens when Suggs barely touched him, yet Favre gets killed an nothing happens? Conspiracy.
Let's move on to overtime. This is where it really gets suspicious. Here's the situation: Its fourth and about 1 around the Vikings 43. Pierre Thomas dives over the pile and a Vikings defender puts his helmet on the ball. Thomas maintains possession, but the ball is down around his waist. Yet the officials spot the ball at the 41 and a half, well in front of the first down marker, and about a yard ahead of where the ball actually was. Then the play is reviewed and the play stands. Are you kidding me? How can the officials ignore clear video evidence? They at least have to re-spot the ball and measure again. Maybe it's still a first down, but at least the right call is made. Conspiracy
A play or two later the Vikings are called for pass interference. This is one of the worst calls I've ever seen, and I've watched a lot of Patriots games. Even Randy Moss would be embarrassed to get this call. There is absolutely no contact between Leber and Dave Thomas and the ball was uncatchable. On this same play Jared Allen blows by the Left Tackle and has a clear shot at Brees, only he gets tackled from behind. Is there a holding penalty? Of course not. Instead of 1st and 20 from the 50 or 2nd and 10 from the 40, its 1st and 10 from the 30. Conspiracy
Finally on the second to last play before the game winning field goal, its 2nd and 15 around the 35. Brees completes a pass Robert Meachem around the 20. Only Meachem didn't catch the ball. The play is reviewed and it appears as if the ball is on the ground. I'll admit that during the game I wasn't 100 percent convinced it was incomplete, but an NFL live replay highlighted the ball, and it was clearly on the ground. Of course that would have left the Saints with a 50+ yard field goal, no easy task from a kicker who has never made one from that length in his career. Instead Hartley crushes one from about 40. Saints complete their robbery of the Vikings.
By the way, to those of you who think that Favre lost the game, think again. The Vikings fumbled about 7-8 times, losing 3 of those. Twice they fumbled inside the Saints' 10, and once a fumble set up the Saints at the Vikings' 7. And the final interception is explainable. Had he thrown it away, the Vikings are left attempting a 57 yard field goal. Do you really like those odds? Obviously I would have rather seen them attempt it than throw a INT, but I understand Favre trying to force the issue to give the Vikings a makable field goal attempt.
(Side-note: How much does the Fox Robot suck? He is the worst thing on television right now, including the numerous terrible commericals and Deborah Morgan from Dexter. Every time he is on screen I want to punch something. Sometimes he is doing jumping jacks or running in place or jumping rope. He's a robot, he doesn't need to get exercise. During the NFC championship I saw him waving a checkered flag and playing guitar. I thought this was a football game. I can't wait til baseball season so I can see him take some BP while I listen to the wise words of Tim McCarver. Gotta love Fox.)
-Matt
-Jon
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