The refs blatantly stole the Seahawks, Colts, and Vikings game from the Packers. Had they not stolen today’s Vikings game, even with the other two stolen games, the Packers get a bye in the playoffs. The Vikings, who “won” the game by 3 points, scored a touchdown on a drive where a key pass for a first down clearly hit the ground. This gave the Vikings the game. Where is the integrity in the NFL when everyone can clearly see the pass was incomplete, but because the Packers were out of timeouts and couldn’t challenge the play, it stood? I’ve always said that when there are obvious bad calls that can be seen in the booth, the booth should advise the refs and the play should be called correctly. This call resulted in one team (the bears) not making the playoffs, another team (the Vikings) making the playoffs who shouldn’t have, and another team (the Packers) not getting a bye they deserved, forcing them to play an additional game and then go on the road for the second round (should they make it) when a bye would have given them a home game in the second round and no game in the first round. There is no integrity to outcomes of games that everyone knows are wrong, such as the Packer games against Seattle, Indianapolis, and Minnesota, yet the league allows them to stand.
Now, to McCarthy. The Packers “lost” by 3 points, so any possession would have been the difference.
He made no attempt to score in the first quarter. On the Packers’ first possession, they ran on first down for 2 and punted. The Vikings, already up 3-0, scored a TD to go up 10-0. McCarthy then ran on first down for no gain, and punted. These were the first-quarter possessions when the tone of a game can be set, and the Vikings dominated as a result. They then were down 13-0, again due to the momentum the Vikings had from stopping the Packers each time due to the first-down runs.
The Packers got the ball with 1:07 left in the half at their own 20, easily passed downfield, and kicked a field goal at the end of the half.
To start the third quarter, the Packers got the ball at their 20. With the exception of 2 runs, they passed on every down and easily scored a touchdown to make the score 20-17, Lions. They could have been doing this all during the first half.
Down 20-17 and with momentum, the Packers stopped the Lions and the Lions punted. The Packers passed on first down and got a roughing penalty against the Lions. They then threw on first down for 11 yards and a first down. They then ran on first down for 2, ran on second down for 6, had a false start, then fumbled at midfield. The first- and second-down runs not only stalled the drive and resulted in a turnover, but the Vikings scored a touchdown as a result, making the score 27-17.
Down 10 in the fourth quarter, McCarthy knew he had to pass. This was the next drive: Pass on first down for 5, pass incomplete but it should have been completed for a long gain, pass for 5 and a first down. Pass on first down for 11 and a first down. Run on first down for 6 and kick a field goal to tie the score at 27. Another drive stalled by a first down-run. Again, I always say that when you hold a team to a field goal, the momentum change frequently results in you scoring. The Vikings did score a TD to take a 34-27 lead.
Down by 7 with 7:54 to play, even McCarthy knew he had to pass. The Packers started from their own 22. With the exception of two runs for 11 yards and 1 yard, every play was a pass play and the Packers easily scored the tying touchdown.
The Vikings could not stop the pass and the Packers’ strength is passing, but McCarthy stopped drive after drive by first-down runs.
With 2:00 left in regulation, the Vikings had a third-and-11 from their 27. If the Packers stop them, they get the ball back and the Vikings couldn’t stop their passing game, so the Packers probably win. McCarthy decides to rush three, which has burned him time and again during the regular season and playoffs (see previous posts), and since Ponder had time, he completed a pass for 25 yards and a first down. As a result, the Vikings moved into “winning” field-goal range and kicked the field goal on the last play.
So the refs ‘stole’ the game from the Packers by applying the existing rules?? That’s a twist.
Oh—and the ‘key’ play of which you complain happened on FIRST down!!!!!!!
The existing rules allow plays to stand that shouldn’t. It was clear to everyone that the pass was incomplete. Having rules that allow bad calls to stand is ridiculous, just as it was ridiculous the perfect game that was blown on the call on the last play was not considered a perfect game. When we have the ability to make the calls right and don’t do it, that’s a bad situation. As I mentioned, in this case, these calls impacted who made the playoffs and might impact who wins playoff games. The Packers, instead of having a bye and home game in the second round, have to play a first-round game, and then go on the road if they win. This play might have been a first-down play, but it gave them a nice gain and kept the drive alive, resulting in a TD. And, if you give the Packers EITHER the Seahawk or Colt game, this game is irrelevant and they have the bye.
You can’t cherry pick calls (as you have ALWAYS done) you want to use to sustain your point and then say that THOSE specific calls meant the game (except in rare circumstances like the Seattle game)–as to your larger point, let’s eliminate the refs and set up comprehensive camera systems–the calls even out (yes, they do).
Larry, I am inclined to think that the game was fixed. How could the Packers Lose that Game if they were really trying to win ? In the last minute of the game, every human being in the world knows that Adrian Peterson will get the Ball and the Vikings will run. This was so obvious that it was a given. The Packers line up and then allow Peterson to run off tackle and get the yards they needed for a makeable Field Goal.
It is ridiculous. The Packer threw that game just to screw the Bears !
Where was the sportsmanship ?