Must Read: Sage's account of '09 NFC Championship game

[CbusVikesFan]

"How could they not realize that if we hadn’t fumbled earlier in the game or hadn’t had the miscommunication that led to the 12-men-on-the-field penalty, he wouldn’t have ever been in that situation in the first place? It was discouraging to see the entire game encapsulated by one bad play."

Now this is what I've saying all along about the game. How could anyone pin the loss on Favre alone? I always respected Brett, he was one amazing player and loathed him as the Packer QB. I was skeptical about how much he had left in the tank and throughout the whole season I was waiting for the wheels to come off well before the Championship game. But when that game actually rolled around and the Vikings were in it, I knew that the Vikings had a real chance to get to the SB. I knew that the Saints were very beatable and the Vikes were the team that could do it.
After the game was over, I knew that Favre would shoulder most of the blame because of the INT. I knew that most people would blame Favre regardless of all the mistakes that other players made earlier in the game, some of them so critical that points were most assuredly taken off the board.
If there was anyone that "choked", it was Berrian, AP, and Bryant McKinnie. More than once I saw BK ole' and whiff on blocks , causing Favre run for his life or get the crap knocked out of him. Berrian and AP fumblings in critical points and positions on the field were most detrimental, in my opinion.

[Mothman]

If there was anyone that "choked", it was Berrian, AP, and Bryant McKinnie.

Now you're doing essentially the same thing that people who wanted to place the blame on Favre were doing, trying to place blame on a few players instead of on the team as a whole. It was a team loss. Every loss is a team loss. Favre was right: he did choke on that infamous INT play. He just wasn't alone in making a crucial mistake.

Berrian and AP fumblings in critical points and positions on the field were most detrimental, in my opinion.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you look at what actually happened in the game, only one of AD's fumbles had a negative impact on the game for the Vikes. That was the the botched handoff, the fumble that wasn't even credited to him in the official stats. Meanwhile, he scored two TDs and had over 100 yards rushing. He arguably had more to do with them being in the game than losing it.

[The Breeze]

I think Harvin had a huge fumble in that game. BB had a bad play....but overall that may have been his best overall game in purple. Definitely his best game of that season. I just rewatched that game recently for the first time and I came away feeling that our views of what really happpened in that game are completely jaded by the fact that they lost.
No need for excuses or blame IMO. The Saints did play a great game and caused more turnovers. It was a great game.....better than that seasons superbowl~

[Mothman]

I think Harvin had a huge fumble in that game. BB had a bad play....but overall that may have been his best overall game in purple. Definitely his best game of that season. I just rewatched that game recently for the first time and I came away feeling that our views of what really happpened in that game are completely jaded by the fact that they lost.
No need for excuses or blame IMO. The Saints did play a great game and caused more turnovers. It was a great game.....better than that seasons superbowl~

Agreed.

Harvin did have a huge fumble in that game, as did Berrian. I also agree that it was a better game than the Super Bowl that year.

[NextQuestion]

Oddly enough, Berrian was actually kind of a beast in this game outside of that fumble.

[purpledominance]

One of my favorite backups.

[CbusVikesFan]

Now you're doing essentially the same thing that people who wanted to place the blame on Favre were doing, trying to place blame on a few players instead of on the team as a whole. It was a team loss. Every loss is a team loss. Favre was right: he did choke on that infamous INT play. He just wasn't alone in making a crucial mistake.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you look at what actually happened in the game, only one of AD's fumbles had a negative impact on the game for the Vikes. That was the the botched handoff, the fumble that wasn't even credited to him in the official stats. Meanwhile, he scored two TDs and had over 100 yards rushing. He arguably had more to do with them being in the game than losing it.

So, it was an excellent point when Sage made it? I wasn't protecting Favre. I was pointing out that "most likely" the Vikings as a team would be running out the clock instead of trying to drive down the field again. You see the game the way you do, and I guess we have the right to disagree. Whether who is more on point with their assessment is a moot now. No golden ring for the Vikings again.

[soflavike]

The ones who choked were the refs who, without even throwing a flag, let the Saints destroy Favre's ankle on purpose. Bobby McCray knew exactly what he was doing.

And then, the phantom PI calls against the Vikes in OT... disgusting.

[DanAS]

Read this.

The Vikings-Saints NFC championship will stay with me forever—it was the most physical, and fateful, game I’ve ever been a part of
By Sage Rosenfels
http://mmqb.si.com/2013/08/07/sage-rose ... s-vikings/

That game still pissed me off. In fact, the way the NFL ultimately dealt with Bounty-gate (essentially exonerating the players), pissed me off, and it's largely because of that game. But Rosenfels is right -- the most outrageous thing of all is that so many members of the media summarized the game by saying that it was but one more example of Favre choking under pressure.

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times, "sports journalist" is one of my favorite oxymorons. Favre was an absolute warrior in that game and deserves all the props from Vikings fans for getting us just microns away from the summit.

[RandallioCobb18]

Read this.

The Vikings-Saints NFC championship will stay with me forever—it was the most physical, and fateful, game I’ve ever been a part of
By Sage Rosenfels
http://mmqb.si.com/2013/08/07/sage-rose ... s-vikings/

Man I love remembering this game, not a Packer fan in the land that didn't predict that Favreulous throw to lose the game.

[PurpleKoolaid]

anyone who blames that loss on favre is an idiot. how, in that situation, do you allow 12 men to be on the field? that, in and of itself, has to be the most inept display in a crucial situation i've ever seen (and that falls on childress). to come all that way, to have a kick to go to the superbowl; and a careless personel decision ultimately sealed their fate?

I do. Because Favre had been in the situation many times before. PH and AD hadn't. He had been in games with more pressure on him. We paid him a TON (basically leaving our team handicapped after he left) to complete a pass like that, esp. when he missed the wide open WR. We just needed a short yrd completion to give us a chance to be in the SB. Favre blew it. It doesn't matter that we wouldn't have been there without him, he did what he does best when the game was on the line for the Vikes, he threw a pick.

[Mercy Percy]

Great read on great insight. We should of won that game and he should of been holding up that Lombardi Trophy.

[Mercy Percy]

So the fumbles didnt effect the outcome? Only Favres interception? Was it his fault he got put into that position? Ignorance my friend isnt a good trait

[Demi]

So the fumbles didnt effect the outcome? Only Favres interception? Was it his fault he got put into that position? Ignorance my friend isnt a good trait

Yep, AD shouldered some of the blame. But most of it should be on the Saints for cheating. Only time I've seen a QB hit after he handed the ball off that I can remember. Won a ring with that ####.

[RandallioCobb18]

So the fumbles didnt effect the outcome? Only Favres interception? Was it his fault he got put into that position? Ignorance my friend isnt a good trait

Of course it wasn't JUST him, that should go without saying, when is losing a game ever one players fault?

His pick though, was the main decider in the game, had he thrown to the open man, or tucked and ran, it would have probably been the end for the Saints, but instead he chose to do what everyone knew he was going to do, choke.