Defensive Delay of The Game: Or How The Refs Came Through In The Clutch

Delay of the game, on the defense...really?  I have been watching football for about 15 years now.  In that 15 years I have never seen that penalty called.  Look, in the end that penalty didn't really matter however it tipped the hands of the officials.  That tripping penalty was really the worst call of the day, horrid.  The refs came through in the clutch for Pittsburgh.  I hope they got the game ball.

Moving on, the Steelers capitalized on some mistakes by the Vikings and I tip my hat to them.  They are the defending champions and they made the plays to win.  However the Vikings should have won that game.  We had the game in our hands and let it slip away.

First off, everyone forgets about this now, but there is now way we should have ever let the Steelers drive like 90 yards with 2 minutes left in the first half.  Our defense played championship defense for the most part yesterday and we shouldn't have let that happen.  We should have gone to the tunnel with the lead.

Second, why are we throwing twice from the half yard line?  When you have the best running back in the NFL (despite what Skip Bayless says... I mean he would only half heartedly admit that AP was "good") on your team he should have gotten at least two carries.  That being said, I'm not letting Jimmy Kleinsauser off the hook, he dropped that touchdown pass from Favre.

Third, the Favre fumble was a legit bad play on his part.  He was just trying to do too much.  However that play should have never happened, but the Steelers 12th man (the refs) came up with a "tripping" penalty that erased a touchdown to Sidney Rice.  So far that's an 18 point swing (7 we let up to the Steelers, 11 we left on the board).

Fourth, that game ending Int should have never happened, Chester Taylor should catch that ball.  Yes, it was a wee bit high but he's a professional!  It hit him in the hands.  That's at least 3 points, and the tie we left on the board, however I think we would have scored the touchdown.  Our offense was rolling at that point.  The fact we could come back from those bad calls and the letdowns and still be in the position to score and take the game on the road in a hostile environment against the champs says something about our team.  We fought all the way to the very bitter end, even with the game out of reach with 1 minute left we were still playing hard. 

If any of you watched the "Mic'd Up" from last week with Brad Childress he noted to Adrian Peterson how the Ravens had the "heart of a champion" and that the Vikings needed to develop said heart.  Well I think on Sunday they showed they are on the way.  They fought hard.  Phil Loadholt chased that pick six all the way to the endzone.  But the play that really highlights our fight was that Adrian Peterson catch and run for 29 yards.  He LIGHT UP William Gay.  He lowered the boom on that man and left his pride laying somewhere near midfield.

That brings me to my last point, what was AP doing out of the game on that interception?  I know he probably needed a breather, but if I recall correctly that was at least the second play they had ran since the run.  I think Chilly is overusing Favre and I don't want to seem him wear out like he did last year, that is my one concern.  I think Chilly needs to let AP take over that last drive a la the Packers game last year.  Everyone was thinking Favre magic time, but I was thinking AP Beast Mode time.  That had to be disheartening for Peterson to watch his back up blow the game after that thrilling run.  I mean AP was going wild and he let out his battle cry after that run, he was ready for war, and there he sat on the bench as Chester Taylor choked the game away. 

I am looking forward to next Sunday when we go to the Tundra to take on the cheeseheads.  I want to see how this team will respond to loss.  Personally I think Favre will have them ready.  I think they well come out of the gates strong.  I think this is a game AP will take over, however that's a discussion for another day. 

I said a few days ago that this would be a statement game.  I think we sent a message, we showed we could hang with and out play the defending champs on their turf.  Our defense played great, especially considering we where without Winfield.  Oh well, onward and upward.  Bring on the Cheese.