I'm not going to analyze this game a whole lot, as it is pretty simple why the Vikings fell to the Falcons. Despite dominating in nearly aspect of the game, turnovers (four fumbles in all) doomed the Purple in their quest for the NFC North Division title.
I probably should be ruing this loss as just "one more" in the long line of Vikings late-season choke jobs from years past, but I'm not going to do so. The reason? For the first time since Mike Tice was fired nearly before leaving the field in 2005, the Vikings were an exciting team to watch.
Without the bonehead turnovers, the Vikings could have turned this game into a blowout, as every aspect of the game was clicking:
The running game was working well until Adrian Peterson kept fumbling away possessions (he finished with 76 yards), but Tarvaris Jackson also added 76 yards on the ground by himself and looked as exciting as the prime years of Daunte Culpepper. What impressed me the most about Jackson's scrambling, though, is that he wasn't just running around like a chicken with his head cut off...instead, he ran when he saw big yardage and scrambled to avoid pressure and deliver an on-target pass when needed.
The passing game also took off, as Jackson connected with TE Visanthe Shiancoe seven times for 136 yards and two scores. Not only that, but ALL of Jackson's passes were quick, decisive, and right on the mark. I can't think of a single play in which Tarvaris really made a poor decision or failed to hit his receiver in stride. I don't know where in the heck this "new-and-improved" T-Jack came from, especially considering how lost he looked at the beginning of the season, but I like it! The Vikings are finally exciting to watch again!
Finally, the defense played very well even in the absence of Pat Williams (holding Michael "Buner" Turner under 100 yards), but again, all those turnovers gave the Falcons way too many scoring opportunities that never should have occurred.
So, despite the fact that the Vikings completely blew a chance to clinch the NFC North, I'm not getting too down on them yet. Fumbling is a relatively easy thing to fix (as opposed to, say, re-designing an entire offensive attack), and the Vikes still have a great chance to reach the NFL "promised land" (playoffs).
Go Pack Go!!
Keywords: Adrian Peterson, Atlanta Falcons, Daunte Culpepper, Michael Turner, Mike Tice, Minnesota Vikings, NFC North, NFL Playoffs, Pat Williams, Tarvaris Jackson, Vistanthe Shiancoe
