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

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

What Could Have Happened: The Vikings offense could have been stopped or turned the ball over, which would have resulted in a devastating loss for the purple. Minnesota would have dropped to 4-5, making their road to the NFC North title an uphill battle the rest of the season.

2. Antoine Winfield's Sack, Scoop, and Score against Carolina: Week Three vs. Panthers

With the Vikings 0-2 and down 10-3 at home against the Carolina Panthers in week three, the smallest guy on the field might have made the biggest play of the game.

With a little over a minute left in the first half, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme dropped back to pass. Winfield came on a delayed blitz and smacked Delhomme to force the ball out. He had great awareness to see the ball, pick it up, and run 19 yards to tie the game at 10 going into halftime.

What Could Have Happened: If the Panthers get down the field and kick a field goal or even go into halftime with a seven-point lead and momentum, the Vikings have an uphill battle to avoid an 0-3 start to the season.

3.Winfield's Blocked Field Goal Return for a Touchdown: Week Five at Saints

In the first quarter, Saints quarterback Drew Brees had be tearing apart the Vikings secondary already up 7-0 and was moving the ball into Minnesota territory when the drive stalled and the field goal unit came on the field for New Orleans. The Vikings blocked the kick and the ball fell perfectly in cornerback Antoine Winfield's hands behind the play and he took it back 59 yards for the touchdown to tie the game. Minnesota won 30-27.

What Could Have Happened: If the Vikings don't block the field goal and kicker Martin Gramatica converts, the Saints go up 10-0. That hole would not be impossible to overcome, but difficult with the way the secondary was playing against Brees and the Saints' passing attack.

4. Tarvaris Jackson's Touchdown Pass to Visanthe Shiancoe: Week 14 at Detroit

With a trip to Detroit after a huge win against Chicago in week 13, the game against the winless Lions seemed like the ideal trap game.

Well, it started out that way, with quarterback Gus Frerotte throwing two interceptions and being knocked out of the game in the first half. Enter Tarvaris Jackson, who struggled badly in the first two games of the season and lost his job. Jackson came in and managed the game well.

With the Vikings down by four with a little over 11 minutes left and the ball at the Lions' 11, Jackson ran a bootleg to the right and hit tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for the go-ahead touchdown. The Vikings won 20-16 to keep their lead on the NFC North heading into week 15.

What Could Have Happened: The Vikings' offense could have settled for a field goal at that moment to come within one of Detroit, but at that point all bets are off. Getting that lead took some pressure off of Jackson to score more points and the Vikes held on.

5. Vikings Goal Line Stand against Chicago on Sunday Night: Week 13 vs. Bears

With the top spot in the NFC North on the line in a nationally televised game in week 13, the Bears were at the Vikings' one yard line with a 7-3 lead.

After three consecutive tries, the Bears were still at the one. Head coach Lovie Smith decided to keep the offense on the field. Quarterback Kyle Orton handed the ball off to Matt Forte, who was smacked on the right side of the line by many Viking defenders, led by defensive tackle Pat Williams.

On the next play, Frerotte threw a 99-yard touchdown to former Bears wide receiver Bernard Berrian and the Vikings took a 10-7 lead. Minnesota went on to win 34-14 and take sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

What Could Have Happened: The Bears take a 14-3 lead if they put the ball into the end zone with Forte. This puts pressure on Frerotte and the Vikings' passing game to make plays, something that wasn't a strength last season. The game could have very well been put away early without this momentum-changing play and the Bears go on to take the lead in the division.

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