Vikings more disappointed than upset after first loss of season

A competitor's credo is to never apologize for a win and never settle for a moral victory in defeat.

[ZygiZag]

Hand off to AP, running right , now he cuts back to the left, pitches it back to Bret Farve and he goes long to Rice/Harvin ...... Do the play 4 times and you would have 3 TD's.

I know the Steelers have a good D but our coaching offensive minds are as about as creative as dial tone.

[Joe]

The Vikes controlled just about every important category to win except for possibly one play where they received the phantom penalty that ended up costing them a swing of 14 points. Too bad the game has to be decided by a bogus call. Even the Sunday football crew with Dungy said that that was how they teach you to block but was called a leg whip or trip as they reviewed it several times they could not see a penalty. They also said this crew is known for calling the most penalties with some of them being phantom calls. There is no solice in that but it did affect the outcome which is too bad. The out of bounds call on the reception late in the game even though the Vikes won the challenge was right in front of the official and wasted a Vikes challenge. Good grief let the players decide it.

[Whatever]

The officiating wasn't good, but it was all the way around. We got some breaks as well. I am more pleased with this loss than I was with last weeks win. I have no problems with the play calling this week except for maybe the final drive. Clock management again became an issue at the end of the game. 2nd and 3 with 2 TOs and plenty of time considering we're in the red zone; why not run? With the faintest of chances to even tie after the second TD return with under a minute left, they let like 20 seconds run off the clock between plays. I mean there is still a minute chance at some magic to happen and there was no sense of urgency. And we still had 2 TOs left. Oh, another coaching blunder, don't let me forget, the first challenge. Who in the world told Brad to throw the red flag. That was CLEARLY a catch, from all angles. I was pleased though with the way the secondary played. Definitely didn't expect that. Harvin showed some toughness. I like the kid. I like Sapp playing for Winfield, too. Just wish his brain would stop farting. There's always one every game.

[dave d]

I hope this game ticked Favre off enough so that he goes into GB with an attitude. Bret, Thompson and the rest of the Packers are laughing at you. You gotta get it done next week...Peterson is suppose to be the Best. Darn it, use him!!! Keep pounding!!! Vikings O line has got to open lanes for Peterson..

[40for60]

geoski57 wrote:

viqueers suck pack will win.

Stay classy packer fans, just like always.

[Mark]

I have to wonder if "scoop & score" constitutes good coaching. Wouldn't some situational awareness come into play? If we make that play by falling on the ball, the entire game changes in our favor. In fact, a "scoop & score" puts the ball right back in the hands of Big Ben, with a chance for THEM to establish some momentum. I also question the lousy scheme we used late in the first half, allowing them easy completions in front of us which led to a TD. Frazier might be a weak link in this chain, folks.

[NebrViking]

I have to say, I didn't think we would have a chance in this game. I expected a high scoring game that we lose. So congratulation on that part. I do agree with Whatever about clock management. Clink apparently just doesn't get it. At the end of the 1st half, and at the end of the game. Better decisions would have won us the game.

[Mad Dog Gus]

The NFL is more interesting now that the Steelers won this game. There's a lot of difference with the defending champs being 5-2, rather than 4-3.

Now how about the Vikings and Packers? Next week's game becomes way more important with the Vikings having one loss and the Packers two.

This game was actually a blowout, but the penalties decided the game. The Vikings had 18 first downs, the Steelers 11. 3 of the Steeler's 11 were by penalty. Total penalties, Vikings 11, Steeler's 3.

A touchdown called back, a defensive delay of game...come on, the NFL wasn't about to let this game go the way it should have!

[there last 2 nights]

Mad Dog Gus wrote:

The NFL is more interesting now that the Steelers won this game. There's a lot of difference with the defending champs being 5-2, rather than 4-3.
Now how about the Vikings and Packers? Next week's game becomes way more important with the Vikings having one loss and the Packers two.
This game was actually a blowout, but the penalties decided the game. The Vikings had 18 first downs, the Steelers 11. 3 of the Steeler's 11 were by penalty. Total penalties, Vikings 11, Steeler's 3.
A touchdown called back, a defensive delay of game...come on, the NFL wasn't about to let this game go the way it should have!

that tripping call was bs! i didnt realize we were watching basketball where every foul gets called. give me a break!

[LOL]

there last 2 nights wrote:

<quoted text>
that tripping call was bs! i didnt realize we were watching basketball where every foul gets called. give me a break!

you mean every Viking foul. Steelers were hardly flagged. And if you're going to call it tight on the Vikes like that, you know the Steelers had some they could have called as well.... Just saying obvious home field biased officiating in my opinion

[LOL]

but that's not waht cost the game

[Woofer]

Childress cost the Vikes another game. He is a coward as a coach, and they picked up him saying to Bevell "do I need to start calling plays" after Sidney Rice made that great catch on the side line. It was way out of Chilly's realm of contention that a play could be that exciting. And then taking AP out after that catch and run and putting Chester in for not one but two plays where Taylor has burned us in the past with choking away the ball is just plain bad coaching. Then for them to excuse Edwards baffoonery for not falling on the ball...this team will never win anything with this idiot as a coach. And worse he still continued to keep that thing called Paymah on the field yesterday..for what?

[Indyfan]

Mark wrote:

I have to wonder if "scoop & score" constitutes good coaching. Wouldn't some situational awareness come into play? If we make that play by falling on the ball, the entire game changes in our favor. In fact, a "scoop & score" puts the ball right back in the hands of Big Ben, with a chance for THEM to establish some momentum. I also question the lousy scheme we used late in the first half, allowing them easy completions in front of us which led to a TD. Frazier might be a weak link in this chain, folks.

Agreed, the coach needs to rethink this strategy. There was no scoop and score opportunity. Edwards was in a crowd and the right play was to fall on it. Sharper made a similar mistake last year in the end zone, whiffed, and it cost us the the game. I understand your mindset needs to be aggressive but you need field awareness and to play smart. That play was dumb.

[Howard Luloff]

Once again, the Vikings blew a winnable game by making too many blockhead mistakes. If this team is going to be in serious Super Bowl contention, this has to stop. This is a much better team than last year and what I saw on Sunday was like the Vikings of several years ago.

[The Hard Truth]

Two men left because they didn't want to play for this coach: Birk and Sharper. They would have looked good on the field today. Second, Mr. Childress seems to think that his "Mr. Spock" approach to play calling -- having everything predetermined by some rational plan -- is the way to be a coach. Perhaps if you're a creative mind, but not if you're a pedestrian, uncreative thinker. To me, the bottom line is and has been that Mr. Childress, to his credit, has assembled a good team, but can't run one. His key weakness is that he thinks he's smarter than he is. He does, to his credit, seem to learn -- like when Pat Williams took him to the woodshed a few years ago. But he learns too slowly. Oh, to have Tomlin on our side of the field. I'll bet a lot of the players were thinking the same thing.

[Denny]

Howard Luloff wrote:

Once again, the Vikings blew a winnable game by making too many blockhead mistakes. If this team is going to be in serious Super Bowl contention, this has to stop. This is a much better team than last year and what I saw on Sunday was like the Vikings of several years ago.

What did you do? catch a few minutes here and there? The Vikes played a good game except for a few mistakes. You seem to forget that they were playing in a hostile environment. Did you see pitts home record? 18-4. This team is not anything like those teams of several years ago. The bottom line is they had a chance to win this game a couple of times. Hold your heads up high vikes and don't ever listen to anything a fan like this has to say.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Bad Officiating? so, maybe, who cares? you win on the field despite those things, not losee becuz of...what a bunch of whiners.....the Queens lost becuz of their coach, just like they win DESPITE him however, they lost becuz of the Klueless one ...and probably Bevel......let's see, first and goal at the 1...and you pass twice?...are you kidding me? you have the best running back in the universe at your disposal...you give him the ball 3 times straight ahead, you think he won't score?...of course he will but you got to be cute and try and throw, what is up with that?..last week they get first and goal at the 5 and instead of passing they give up and run...nice thinking there...all they want are field goals,,it is called the "killer insticnt"...meaning you go for the throat when you have the chance, not curl up and kick an effe field goal, that is Klink's mentality and IT WILL COST THEM,, this just typifies why they will never win a big game with this idiotic coaching staff..the guy is TOO arrogant for his own good and why he is, well I haven't a clue, the guy has never won anything yet Zygi is going to give this loser an extension?...why would you do that before he as won anything?...it's not the rest of league is going to be pounding this guy's door down...I just don't get it.....

[Oh Danny Boy]

Mad Dog Gus wrote:

The NFL is more interesting now that the Steelers won this game. There's a lot of difference with the defending champs being 5-2, rather than 4-3.
Now how about the Vikings and Packers? Next week's game becomes way more important with the Vikings having one loss and the Packers two.
This game was actually a blowout, but the penalties decided the game. The Vikings had 18 first downs, the Steelers 11. 3 of the Steeler's 11 were by penalty. Total penalties, Vikings 11, Steeler's 3.
A touchdown called back, a defensive delay of game...come on, the NFL wasn't about to let this game go the way it should have!

they lost the game becuz of Klink, not the officials......

[Oh Danny Boy]

Denny wrote:

<quoted text>
What did you do? catch a few minutes here and there? The Vikes played a good game except for a few mistakes. You seem to forget that they were playing in a hostile environment. Did you see pitts home record? 18-4. This team is not anything like those teams of several years ago. The bottom line is they had a chance to win this game a couple of times. Hold your heads up high vikes and don't ever listen to anything a fan like this has to say.

turnovers and penalties...it cost them the game, period....plus some idiotic play calling.....hummm, just like teams of the past 3 seasons.....it's called coaching and yesterday our true coaching or lack thereof showed it's ugly...and bald head once again....

[Shack in TX]

Mark wrote:

I have to wonder if "scoop & score" constitutes good coaching. Wouldn't some situational awareness come into play? If we make that play by falling on the ball, the entire game changes in our favor. In fact, a "scoop & score" puts the ball right back in the hands of Big Ben, with a chance for THEM to establish some momentum. I also question the lousy scheme we used late in the first half, allowing them easy completions in front of us which led to a TD. Frazier might be a weak link in this chain, folks.

I think "Scoop and Score" was more applicable the past 2 seasons. When our KAO was putting up 10 points a game. Defensive TD's are nice but our offense can move the ball now. Maybe it's time to rethink that plan.