Vikings: 5-11 Or 15-1? Ten Plays That Shaped the 2008 Season

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Last season was one of twists and turns for the Minnesota Vikings, with some fans forgetting that this was a team that won a division title for the first time since 2000.

Minnesota started off 1-3, but behind more steady quarterback managements and some game-changing plays, they reeled off nine wins in their final 12 games and won the NFC North.

Along the way, there were many big plays in crucial moments as well as some plays that seemed to turn the tide for the opposition.

Here are some of the plays of the 2008 Vikings season that might have cost the team some games or pushed the Vikings over the top to get a "W."

Plays That Stopped the Vikings From Wins

1.Visanthe Shiacoe's Dropped Touchdown: Week Two vs. Colts

In the first quarter of the Vikings' home opener, Shiancoe dropped a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

The fans let Shiancoe hear it going back to the bench and Jackson lost his starting job later in the week after the 18-15 loss in which the Vikings could only muster five field goals.

What Could Have Happened: Who knows? With a Shiancoe catch in the end zone, the Vikings put more pressure on Peyton Manning in the second half and get their first win of the season. Jackson probably keeps his job under center. Instead, the team is led by Gus Frerotte to keep the season from falling apart.

2. Charles Gordon's Muffed Punt, Special Teams Touchdown for Bears: Week Seven at Bears

In a shootout in the Windy City in week seven, the Vikings made a couple blunders on special teams that gave Chicago 14 points. The first? Vikings cornerback Charles Gordon was going to let a punt go into the endzone, but the ball bounced up and hit his arm. Bears cornerback Zack Bowman fell on top of it for the touchdown. The Bears won 48-41.

What Could Have Happened: With the recovery in the endzone, the Bears went up 24-17 and led the rest of the way in a much-needed win to stay ahead of the Vikings in the division. If the ball doesn't take a funny bounce and hit Gordon in the arm, the Vikings go on offense in a tie game. Special teams was the name of the game week seven in Chicago.

3. Incompletion on 4th-and-1 in the Second Half: Week 11 at Buccaneers

In the second half at Tampa Bay, the Vikings were tied with the Buccaneers and were lining up on a 4th-and-1 play on their own 49 yard line. Vikings head coach Brad Childress elected to go through the air instead of giving the ball to Adrian Peterson. Quarterback Gus Frerotte rolled to the right and threw a nice ball to Peterson who was running a streak and had a step on Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks. Brooks, who appeared to grab Peterson's arm before the ball got to him, made the play and turned the ball over to the Tampa Bay offense in a 19-13 Bucs win.

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