The Minnesota Vikings are now 11-4

The Vikings found a way to irritate and frustrate fans, give them hope and excitement, and tear out their heart all in one night as they lost in overtime to the Bears 36-30

Wow.

I don’t know if I’ve ever sat through a game that caused so many different emotions in a team.

First came the disgust.

In the first half, the Vikings were awful. The defense didn’t realize they were allowed to play in the game, and the offense thought that it would be nice of them to let the Bears keep the ball. Over 200 yards in the first half by the Bears completely overshadowed the 80-something that the Vikings had. The Vikings couldn’t run or pass or block, but other than that their offense was clicking (that was sarcasm, for those who might not have caught it).

At half time the Vikings were down 16-0

Then, when all seemed lost, Brett Favre seemed to forget it was December.

All the talk about Brett not getting along with Chilly, along with talk of him not being able to play well in the month of December vanished in the second half. The Vikings came out of the locker room and seemed to score at will, moving the ball up and down the field. Brett ended the game with over 300 yards passing and 2 TD, including the game tying throw to Sidney Rice with 9 seconds left on the clock. Things were looking good for Minnesota. They were heading into overtime with momentum on their side.

Uh oh, the Bears win the coin toss.

Not good. They also got themselves into field goal position rather quickly. They set up for the game winning 48 yard kick. Vikings fans were sure that it was all over.

HE MISSED!

THE VIKINGS GET THE BALL! Maybe miracles do happen!

Then comes the heartbreak.

The Vikings come out firing, and they’re moving the ball. Players are making big plays, and all is good.

Here comes a pass to Adrian Peterson who runs for the first down and then some.

Then it happened.

Then Adrian Peterson happened… and not in a good way.

He fumbled the ball in Vikings territory. The Bears went on to score an easy TD and win the game.

So who gets the blame?

Well, the defense played poorly.

Again.

That’s inexcusable.

The special teams had a few bad plays, which did not help at all.

Then we have to remember that the always-reliable Ryan Longwell had an extra point blocked… we obviously wouldn’t have been in the position to go into overtime without that.

The Vikings were playing without EJ Henderson or Pat Williams, which both had to take a toll.

But, and I apoligize for this… I have to put the blame on Adrian Peterson. I’m a huge Adrian Peterson fan. HUGE. I wish people “Happy Adrian Peterson Day” on game day.

But good players have to make clutch plays, and fumbling the ball in overtime is not a clutch play.

It’s a shame to say this, but as dangerous as Adrian Peterson is to other teams, he can also be that dangerous to the Vikings. I think on do-or-die situations like this passing plays have to go to Chester Taylor… maybe even the running plays.

I hope Peterson can figure out his fumbling issues quickly. The Playoffs are almost upon us.