Crucial Game Lapses

Now that the horrific game against the Falcons is behind us, let's reflect.  Score wise it wasn't horrific, however the 5 fumbles wasn't so nice to watch.  When a true fan such as myself and all of you other Purple lovers out there watch a game that had our offense penetrating DEEP into Atlanta's territory, then continually turning over the ball.  Not only that, but doing that at home!!  I do not live in Mn and was fortunate enough to have my local TV station carry the game and I thought the fans at "The Dome" were very gracious with how long they took to "booo" the Purple.  Also, it is very rare that I think Booing is warranted from a fan to their team.  However, it is obvious that in the ONE game that the Vikes needed to come out fired up for, they came out FLATTER than a warm beer!  It was also obvious, aside from CB Griffin and Jared Allen, that the team was flat and not really caring about the fan's concern with performance at home. 

I really do not like to dwell on the negative, however it is also tough these days to truly represent amongst the football faithful as a Vikings faithful when it plays on the embarrassing level it has tended to play in games that count against teams that pose a true threat.  I am sorry, but this team doesn't compare to my memories of '98, even with the let down in the NFC Champ game.  At least that team GOT there!  This team has an immense amount of talent, however there is something missing and it is anyone's guess as to what that is?  I wrote a blog entry a couple weeks ago about the Purple crew playing to the level of their opponent and the week previous to the Falcons, if it weren't for T-Jack bailing out "Gus" Detroit may not now be 0-15.  I have to say on the bright side T-Jack's performance overall was encouraging.  On the concerned level, although A.P. is a stud and a bull, he is also beginning to show a trend to put the "rock" on the ground.  There is another RB I can think of that is now retired that pretty much had the same problem (Tiki Barber) and with some hard work and adjustments to how he carried the ball, then changed that trend.  Maybe A.P. needs to give Tiki a call.  If A.P. wouldn't have laid it down, I think odds say the Vikings would have pulled that game out.  Onward and upward to the G-Men and god willing the PLAYOFFS!