Missed Field Goal

I wrote this 3 weeks ago:

"Long time readers of my blog might remember how I documented what a major role the kicker plays on good or great teams. Accuracy by a kicker will often determine if a team makes the playoffs. Long-range accuracy is the difference between making the playoffs and winning the Superbowl. So many games between great teams come down to a single kick by each of the teams' place kickers. The team with the best kicker wins. Unless Walsh remembers how to kick, our season is over before it started."

One missed field goal is all it took yesterday.

The whole team was deflated by Walsh's missed 37-yard field goal attempt. What made it worse was Denver's 70+ yard TD run just one play later. That touchdown was a direct result of the letdown the Vikings had just experienced. That missed field goal cost them the game.

As badly as Teddy was treated yesterday by Denver's defense, and let's face it, he took more punishment yesterday than Brett Favre did in the NFC championship game against the Saints, Teddy got up and kept on performing. He fumbled with 30 seconds left after one too many hits, but he played an outstanding game despite the violent pressure.

We lost because of Walsh. The Vikings are a good team this year. We will never be great with the current incarnation of Blair Walsh.

There's a reason the the Vikes are 2-2 and not 4-0. All that effort wasted because of one man.

On a brighter note, my Packers won.