Score: Vikings 23, Cowboys 20
Time: 3:44 left in the fourth quarter
Situation: 3rd-and-9 at the Dallas 40
Result: Vikings QB Christian Ponder scrambled for four yards after failing to see an open receiver; after a delay of game penalty the Vikings punted on fourth down and the Cowboys scored the go-ahead TD on the ensuing drive
It was a huge missed opportunity for the Vikings. A pass to Jennings would have gotten the first down and, at the very least, put the Vikings in position to increase their lead to six points with a field goal. The Cowboys would have likely burned their timeouts and needed to drive the length of the field to score. Instead, Dallas got the ball back with 2:44 remaining and two timeouts. The Cowboys needed just 2:02 to score the game-winning touchdown, with 42 seconds to go.
That's why I keep saying that this team is a QB away from being playoff bound. Just a simple play like that, and the defense looks like it's 90 yards per game better (for this week).
And frankly, intellectually, I don't want Ponder to make those plays now. I want (not in my heart, but in my head) to lose out, and have one of the top two selections, and finally get a shot to pick up a franchise QB.
