Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots: Don't Blame Brett Favre for Loss

The Minnesota Vikings have now lost more games this season than in the entire regular season last year.

Final: Vikings 18, Patriots 28.

The Vikings are now 2-5, three wins behind the Green Bay Packers who defeated the New York Jets, 9-0.

Don't pin this one on Brett Favre.

There's plenty of blame to go around—first and foremost with Brad Childress and his decision-making.

Twice in this one the Vikings faced a 4th-and-1, the second time on the goal line near the end of the first half.

Both times they failed to pick up any ground, actually losing yardage.

I understand going for it when you have Adrian Peterson, the best running back in the NFL this season, but in a crucial game, with the score tied, and the fact your team gets the ball to start the second half, take the points.

I also question the formation used. On the goal-line play where was Randy Moss and the best playmaker on the team, Percy Harvin? Why not at least present multiple threats? I suppose I should take some consolation in the fact that at least Toby Gerhart was on the sideline next to Moss and Havin.

In the end, the three points would not have covered the difference, but perhaps it would have set a different tone to start the second half. 

The Minnesota defense also needs to accept a large part of the blame in the loss to the Patriots.

Earlier in the season the defense was keeping the Vikings in the game, however, over the past three weeks the defense appears to be wearing down.

For the third straight game the Minnesota defense was held without a sack. This from essentially the same defense that led the league in sacks last season.

In the fourth quarter Favre finally had the hit that knocked him from the game. 

Down 21-10 with 7:35 left in the game, the Vikings had the ball on the New England 3-yard line.

On third down Favre suffered a cut under his chin after he was hit by the Patriots' Myron Pryor. The injury required eight stitches to close the laceration. 

New England was flagged for defensive holding on the play, giving the Vikings 1st-and-goal on the 1-yard line.

On consecutive plays Tarvaris Jackson threw a touchdown pass to Naufahu Tahi and completed the two-point conversion to Harvin. 

This brought the Vikings within a field goal of the Patriots with 7:31 left in the game.

The perfect opportunity for the Viking defense to rise to the occasion, stop Tom Brady the New England offense and give the ball back to the offense. 

Instead, they allowed someone called BenJarvus Green-Ellis to gain 62 yards on seven carries and score a touchdown in a 14-play drive that left two minutes on the clock. 

There have been some blogs that are predicting Childress' firing with a loss to the Patriots, and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier taking over as interim head coach—but with the way this defense is playing right now, his seat could be as hot as the one Childress is sitting on.

Frazier needs to tell the defensive line that the NFL has banned the celebrations following a sack—not the sack itself.

The schedule turns slightly favorable for the Vikings. Over their next five games they only have to face two teams with winning records—at Chicago in two weeks and then the Packers come to the Metrodome. 

At this point, nothing short of a five-game winning streak will save Childress and the Vikings' playoff aspirations.