Vikings 20, Giants 19: Minnesota's Finally Back In the Playoffs

It's time for Vikings fans to celebrate. Minnesota is in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, and thanks to Ryan Longwell's last-second game-winning field goal, Minnesota earned its way in, instead of relying on the Bears' loss to back into the playoffs.

Adrian Peterson wrapped up his first rushing title, the Vikings finished with the league's stingiest rushing defense and Tarvaris Jackson proved why he should be the team's quarterback in the playoffs by leading a fourth-quarter comeback.

But while there's a lot to celebrate for Vikings fans, there's also some reasons to be concerned:

• Peterson may have wrapped up the rushing title, but he also fumbled again, which gives him five fumbles in the past four games--only one other running back fumbled more than five times all season, while Peterson's nine fumbles are easily the league's worst. Peterson also had a pair of potential fumbles overturned on replay challenges, so he's putting the ball on the ground way too much as the playoffs arrive.

• Speaking of fumbles, Jackson has played well since replacing Gus Frerotte, but he also is very prone to fumbling--he's fumbled four times in the past four games as well. Minnesota will have to hold onto the ball better in the playoffs.

• Brad Childress has pulled himself off of the hot seat by earning a playoff berth, but what was the coach thinking with some awful late-game clock management. Minnesota called a running play with 36 seconds to go from the Giants 30. After Peterson was stuffed for a two-yard loss, it took Minnesota 20 seconds to do anything, finally calling its last timeout with nine seconds to play.

At that point with no timeouts left, the logical decision would be to kick the field goal, since a botched snap, a sack or a completed pass where the Vikings didn't get out of bounds would end the game. Instead, Childress decided to run one more play--an incomplete pass. Then Longwell trotted out to kick the game-winner, a play after he had already pysched himself up to make the kick. Longwell tried to make a joke about it after the game, but even he seemed confused by what happened:

"When your own team tries to ice you, that's a new one," Longwell said. "But it was fun. You love to be in that situation. You love to have that opportunity."

Hey a win's a win, and the Vikings are in the playoffs, which is what matters. But after barely beating a Giants team that had nothing to play for, this needs to serve as a wakeup call for next week's game against the Eagles.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-29-2008 @ 1:15AM

ted said...

Lucky for the Vikes, the Giants rested the good players. They will lose to Philly next week. Sorry Minn. fans. You just cant beat an NFC East team when they are healthy and playing all their first stringers. I will actually go so far as to saying it will be a blowout! Goodbye Vikings! See ya next year...maybe.

12-29-2008 @ 2:03AM

Dennis said...

Ted buddy...listen, we crushed the giants last year in their house...the same team that won the super bowl. Your statment is not 100%true. i assume your a giants fan...well look out..you may eat your words. I see the eagals or panthers sending the giants home to watch the super bowl. Sorry...see ya next year...maybe?

12-30-2008 @ 10:30AM

FootballFan said...

Ted, if you really know the Eagles team, you would know that they are not healthy - Andrews, LJ Smith, Baskett, Dawkins have injuries. I'm sure Dawkins and Baskett will play, but the Vikings have been without big Pat Williams and EJ Henderson. It's playoffs - there are always injuries. Its not going to be a blowout either way. Honestly, the Eagles were pumped up and played a phenomenal game against a team the city and team hates.

12-29-2008 @ 1:57AM

Terri said...

My Vikes will beat the Philly and yes it will be blow out. By the Vikes. Go Vikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12-29-2008 @ 2:09AM

Ted said...

Dennis...your team is just not that good man. Sorry. Peterson will not run in the playoffs.

12-29-2008 @ 2:34AM

vikefanpa said...

Ted...to a point i agree...i think they are close to being a very solid team. I am happy to see them make it this far. If they don't turn the ball over they can play with any team. I guess I didn't care to hear you cut on them..its been over 4 years since they been in the playoffs..cut them some slack. Wait...i bet your a packers fan?

12-29-2008 @ 2:48AM

Jimmy said...

Ted, sorry, but you're an idiot. They played starters until the 3rd quarter and, in case you didn't notice, Peterson busted the longest run of his career against your starters, so if you want to start talking about blowouts you'd better hope to God you're Giants prep for that two-headed behemoth the Panthers are riding because they'll rip you to pieces worse than the Bucs. Oh and as Dennis pointed out if it ever comes down to Giants-Vikes again it'll be in New York, a place that hasn't been to friendly to Eli when playing the Vikes lately. Oh and one more little fun fact for you: on Fox they showed what has happened to the #1 seeds as they entered the playoffs and every team that lost the final game either lost in the Superbowl or didn't even make it.

12-29-2008 @ 2:57AM

viketyke said...

granted eagles are the hot team right now, and pose many problems for us, even tho' we're at home.
Their D dictates alot to any opponents offense w/ their blitzes and stunts. they use a 3-4 or a 4-3 front which gives teams, esp ours, fits on their blocking assignments, as well as fake-out/revolving looks for the QB's, pre & post snap wise.Just ask Brady or the Mannings of the NFL.
[I dont like young TJ's (tavaris jackson) chances here. esp w/ childress' or Off-Coordinators tutledge or lack thereof.]

I'm hoping McNabbs knees are bothering him big time 'cause he used to make our DL and LB's look very slow over the yrs we've played them w/ his scrambles alone. A healty westbrook would be trouble too, cause he's got heart, and he isn't running towards the "Williams Wall" too often as he "aint stupid either". Eagles are west coast "O" like many in the NFL.
McNabb will dink n dunk most of his passes and go for the overhead when the booth tells him to. alot like us.

thus....it'll come down to two things, as usual, turnovers are huuuuuuuuge in playoff games. mortal wounds you might say.
if Vike team joins in on TJ's and AP's little T.O. parties, Vikes are done for, unless they can get equal compensation from the Eagles, T.O.-wise, that is.

Coaching. attn to detail and teaching same, is what separates the men from the boys in any sport. dunno about childress and his staff. not confident here. Reid however has a better rep, better track record, tho' philly's got that "what have u done for me lately" thing going on there. Why is childress so love w/ TJ ? yes he's got talent, but his learning progress/curve bears some scrutiny dont u think? Ferrotte can't run, but somehow helped vikes win majority of their games (along w/ AP and rushing D, of course). i dont know how many of his INT's are his or on the WR's, but with his age and experience he usually makes better reads and doesnt often force things as young TJ does. This QB situation almost reminds me of the Cunningham-Brad Johnson controversy of '98. Yet we had rookie Randy Moss, who made anyone look good that yr (along w/ Cris Carter and Jake Reed). I believe Brad deserved a shot in that ATL game, when Randal was feeling the pressure/choke coming on all, in that stadium.
(but thats another matter.....lol)

"make mine medium-rare pls"

VT

12-29-2008 @ 3:26AM

For those idiots that called me an idiot...If we could bet 100.00 on this game..would you do it? I would..and you guys would be payin up! NOBODY wants to play the Eagles...nobody..YOU WILL LOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND... SO LET IT BE WRITTEN..SO LET IT BE DONE!! Hell, you couldnt win with Fran Tarkenton..much less Tavarius Jackson. LOL!!

12-29-2008 @ 9:24AM

Tony said...

Since Childress drafted McNabb and coached him for years and the fact they are playing in the Terrordome I give the edge to the Vikes. Every sports channel out there has been talking about the scariest team to play would be the Vikings IF, and I repeat, if they play mistake free ball. They have a pro bowl O line, the best run D in the NFL for the last 3 years, the best running duo in football and now a QB that can manage a game. If the Vikings show up and play to their abilities there is no team better and they can beat anyone. They beat the Giants, Panthers and Cards and should have beaten the Falcons. The falcons did not beat the Vikings the Vikings lost the game to the falcons. 137 yards passing, 70 to the 2nd best RB in football and 222 total yards you should win. Say what you want but look at the facts, if the Vikes show up watch out boys. And remember, last year when the playoff started no one gave the Giants a snails chance in hell to go to the superbowl, if they can do it so can the Vikes, the cards, Miami or any other team in the playoffs. The score is 0-0 now, the record you finish with is meaningless, ask the Pats about that last year.

12-29-2008 @ 9:36AM

To all Viking fans....Let me start with the heart break of Brees, he gets a reprive on the kickoff and one tick to go for the record. The dingleberyy WR stops his route and gives up. Growing up in Miami I would have loved to see that record fall.
Secondly, how bad do you think M. Turner feels?
He ended with 61 yards behind the great AP for the rushing title. If you caught the highlighs he had a 65 yard run and was caught from behind and stripped right before the endzone. HEEHEE, sorry Atlanta fans, your boyee blew it. AP broke his 67 yarder and no one came close to catching him.

12-29-2008 @ 9:54AM

Geordi said...

Tony, the operative phrase is "if they show up." They blew so many chances to lock up the division early and Peterson has grown such a case of fumbleitis that it's hard to see them even competing with the Eagles. The thing about the Vikings is they like to coast. When they thought they had the division, they coasted, expecting the Bears to fall by the wayside, which they didn't. The Vikings have a lot of potential but no consistency. Only Brett Favre coughs the ball up more than the Vikings and stupid penalties are always the order of the day. Potential doesn't win games: effort and execution do and we haven't seen much of either lately, except for Longwell's always solid kicking. The Vikings beat the Giants' J.V. squad by a point and suddenly they're legit? I guess we'll see.

12-30-2008 @ 10:31AM

Geordi, you should remember the Eagles season too... they lost to some losing teams too - Redskins last week - and tied the Bengals. A lot of teams "back" into playoffs. Just like the Eagles, they won their last game-which was what counted. I love Philly, but you all wear your green-colored glasses and get a bit too smug. Just remember that a few weeks ago, you all thought the eagles were done for the season and were trying to run reid and mcnabb out of town. Like the movie - Any Given Sunday - any of the teams could move onto the next round of playoffs. The team that will move on will be the team that doesn't turnover the ball and which coach isn't as predictable in their playcalling as reid and childress are normally...

12-29-2008 @ 10:59AM

Mikey said...

There is hope! If you're a Vikings fan like me, we have a week to celebrate our victory. the Eagles looked unbeatable against the Cowboys. Our only hope is that we don't play like the Cowboys. I think we match up pretty even when it comes to defense. On offense our O-line is solid as oak, our ground attack is solid as well, the fumbles are in the past. My main concern is our QB and coaching. T.J. needs to have a perfect day and as for Coach Childress... pray Viking fans, let us pray.

12-29-2008 @ 11:44AM

Mark said...

listen guys...all you minn fans are on crack....like ted said....you are lucky the g-men sat out starters and you barely won with second stringers..something to be worried about i would say, going into the playoffs...also another worry...AP with the fumble disease...hmmm....not to mention that i was looking at the vikes schedule and first thing is the inconsistent play all season until the last few games...not to mention most of the teams they beat sucked or had losing records.....i believe there were only like 2 teams with winning records you beat...have a look see!....vikes sqeaked into the playoffs and will be blown right back out...see ya next year.....bye bye!!!!!.....

12-29-2008 @ 1:12PM

Hey mark, they sat their starters after the half. Eli could not get a TD, Carr did. AP busted a 67 TD on the 1st string D. They played Ward and he did not get over 100 even though we had big Pat out. The Vikings, like any other team play teams differently. They beat Carolina who won their division, they beat the Cards who won their division and they beat the Giants who won their division. Hey, the Giants lost to the Browns who just set an NFL record for so many weeks with no TDs, does that mean the Giants suck? If the team that lost to the Browns show up they will lose to whoever they play. The Jets beat the Pats and then came here to Nashville and beat the 11-0 Titans. As I said, last year when the playoffs started no one gave the Giants a chance to beat Tbay, Dallas, Gbay and the undefeated Pats but they did. This year it could be Miami, Philly, the Cards or the Vikes that take that same route. If you know anything about football you know that any team can win on any given day. Except the Lions!!!

12-29-2008 @ 1:21PM

GS36 said...

"Brad Childress has pulled himself off of the hot seat by earning a playoff berth, but what was the coach thinking with some awful late-game clock management."

Well, he did coach under Andy Reid...

Think the Vikes are worried after the Eagles forced so many fumbles yesterday? Should be very interesting to watch.

12-31-2008 @ 3:48AM

Draven104 said...

Look I'm not a big football name or stat person,but I am and always will be a Giant fan.If the Vikings do well then good for them.However what everone must still remember is that the Giants were playing a pointless game since they are already in and can sit back and have everyone come to them.So with that ebing said I really would go around tooting horns about how the Vikings took on and handled their starters since they weren't playing for anything except to finish the season off and go home for a nice shower and a hot meal.I hope my guys win,but if someone else does then enjoy.We Giants fans will always be able to say that we put a stop to the team everyone swore would never be stopped.Happy playoffs everyone.