Saints-Vikings: One Game That Hurt Several Teams' Pride

For many fans, it was a messy, turnover-filled game.

For others, it was a chance that got away and the pain lingers still.

Minnesota was hoping for this, putting their future on hold for the chance that Brett Favre would defy old man time one more year. For the game, he looked the part with 310 yards passing and a touchdown.

But then you also saw two interceptions, something Favre is also known for. His last pass for the Packers, in the postseason ended that way; his last game for the Jets, as well. Could this be his swan song? Only Brett knows....we might, say in July.

For the Minnesota fans, they will cry and scream about bad penalties, something that every team has witnessed. They would range from PI calls on balls Michael Jordan couldn't catch, or spotting of the balls.

This happens to lots of teams as well, but to be honest, it shouldn't in THIS game. Whoever wins here, is going to the biggest stage in the land, the Super Bowl.

Some have to wonder, if this loss hurts as bad as the Vikings loss to the Falcons back in 1998. A 15-1 team strolled into the playoffs, with that swagger of an offensive behemoth.

Following a missed field goal for the Vikings, from then-perfect kicker Gary Anderson, the dream of reaching the Super Bowl was snuffed out.

Another team has to look at this game, and the next, sigh and hope to find something better to watch on the TV in two weeks.

The San Diego Chargers drafted Drew Brees, after a disaster known as Ryan Leaf had helped turn the team into a mess with a first round pick.

Brees' numbers made a hard choice harder in San Diego, who had traded Eli Manning to the Giants in exchange for Philip Rivers, who is now the starting quarterback.

The Chargers didn't feel Brees was effective in his first two full seasons, when his club was still working out the bugs and felt that Rivers would be a "can't miss prospect."

So after 2005 season, the Chargers sent Brees off, as a free agent to find a new home. That home would turn out to be the New Orleans Saints, who were rebuilding through the draft.

One Reggie Bush, four years and a couple playoff wins later, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl.

The Chargers, who have been to the playoffs under Philip Rivers multiple times, seem to do well in the season....but then find a way to hit the wall when the postseason starts.

For the fans in New Orleans, Drew Brees has pushed the team into a new territory, their first Super Bowl berth.

San Diego fans, can only wonder, what might have been, had the team waited for the future.