2022 Week 15 Review: Refs Try to Prevent Largest Comeback in
Dec 19, 2022 14:28:52 GMT -6
via mobile
Funkytown, Just Me, and 3 more like this
Post by RamblingViking on Dec 19, 2022 14:28:52 GMT -6
Full article - vikingtom702475920.wordpress.com/2022/12/17/2022-week-15-review-refs-try-to-prevent-largest-comeback-in-nfl-history-vikings-pull-it-off-anyway-39-36/
2022 Week 15 Review: Refs Try to Prevent Largest Comeback in NFL History, Vikings Pull It Off Anyway (39-36)
🎶 You’re once….twice….three times trash officials. 🎶
I can hear Lionel singing it now.
Chandon Sullivan had every right to blow up after the referees screwed him out of a second defensive touchdown and the league should be embarrassed by that officiating performance. Sure, the Vikings themselves were to blame for their deficit on the scoreboard, I get that, but to say having your comeback thwarted 3 times by unbelievably poor officiating is frustrating, is a massive understatement. Michael Pittman was still fighting forward on the first fumble. At no point should the play have been blown dead for his forward progress being stopped. I have no idea what that official saw that compelled him to call a facemask penalty on Kris Boyd during Jalen Reagor’s long punt return. It ended up costing the Vikings 65 yards in field position. The Vikings had just cut the deficit to 2 scores and possessed all the momentum, they should have been set up on the Colts 24 yard line with a chance to cut their deficit to 1 score. The second defensive touchdown taken away from Sullivan was definitely the most egregious. Somehow they ruled the ball carrier down by contact when he was standing straight up. I’ve never seen anything like it. The officials are instructed to let the play happen and then review it for accuracy after the fact. That’s now 3 plays in the last 2 games where they’ve completely ignored that directive, including Justin Jefferson’s long catch in Detroit where he never stepped out of bounds. The Vikings, for all intents and purposes, should have had the game tied with over 5 minutes remaining. The fact the Vikings were able to overcome such brutal officiating and still pull off the biggest upset in league history is nothing short of spectacular.
Let’s not let all of that overshadow the Vikings’ effort. Once again Kirk Cousins was fantastic. He’s willing this team week in and week out despite seeing the most pressure in the league. At this point there’s really no cure for any Vikings fan who can’t get on board with Kirk. His effort and resilience win me over every week. It’s a credit to him to understand when it was time to lean on KJ Osborn rather than Jefferson, and Osborn rewarded him for it, having the best game of his career, which in turn opened things up for Jefferson late in the game. That effort and leadership is contagious. On the screen pass Dalvin Cook took for a 64 yard touchdown, Christian Darrisaw, TJ Hockenson, and Ezra Cleveland were still by his side as he crossed the goal line. As long as Kirk hasn’t given up, no other Viking will either, and it shows.
The comeback wasn’t possible without Minnesota’s defense making some plays. In order for the offense to catch up on the scoreboard the defense needed to keep the Colts’ score the same in the second half, which they nearly did with the exception of one field goal. In total the Vikings’ defense only gave up 1 touchdown on the day and only 22 of the Colts’ 36 points, making it one of their better performances on the scoreboard and stat sheet, but it was also against one of the worst offensive teams in the league. We are far enough into the season now to know what good offensive teams can do against this soft defense. Nothing has changed and the Vikings won’t be playing any offenses comparable to the Colts’ in late January. I love in these close games they make clutch plays at the right time, I’ve written about it repeatedly here, but on the road to the Super Bowl, they’re going to need more than just a few clutch plays.
I’ve been very hard on Greg Joseph throughout the season, but I’ll give credit when it’s due. He mostly did his part on Sunday. The Vikings needed every point possible to pull off the largest comeback in league history, and Joseph made all 4 of his XPs and the game winning field goal in overtime. I do wish he’d kick more of his kickoffs through the endzone, though. Indianapolis’s kick returner averaged 35 yards per return over 5 attempts. The Vikings’ coverage team wasn’t having its best day, help them out and kick the ball through the endzone. And of course, what more can I say about Ryan Wright? He averaged 46 yards per punt, including a 63 yarder and a nearly perfect punt downed at the 2 yard line to close out regulation, eliminating any chance for Indianapolis to attempt any last second heroics. Needless to say, if there has to be any criticism, he was a much better punter than passer on Saturday.
The 2022 Vikings have taken years off my life but I’ve never seen a team so resilient. It’s a great trait to have. To call them frauds is idiotic and doing so just goes to show how many feeble minded football fans let the the media form their opinions for them. They’ve had a tougher schedule than Philadelphia, Dallas, and San Francisco. Eight teams Minnesota has played this year have defenses ranked in the top 12. Being 11-3 is a badge of honor they’ve earned the hard way. Over the last 2 weeks Dallas barely beat 1 win Houston and lost to now 6-8 Jacksonville, where are the media conversations calling them frauds? Kansas City needed overtime to beat the 1 win Texans this week, barely beat the 3 win Broncos last week, and earlier in the season lost to the these same Colts the Vikings just beat. Where are the articles calling them frauds? Do the Vikings have flaws? Absolutely. Every team does, but not every team knows how to perform when they’re back is up against a wall, and I’ve come to believe this team thrives in that scenario. They are the most battle-tested team in the NFL. So stop worrying about the media, stop worrying about what the Vikings aren’t, and start loving what they are….NFC North Champions who believe and need us to be on board for the ride. SKOL!
Thomas Tom Wendelgass
2022 Week 15 Review: Refs Try to Prevent Largest Comeback in NFL History, Vikings Pull It Off Anyway (39-36)
🎶 You’re once….twice….three times trash officials. 🎶
I can hear Lionel singing it now.
Chandon Sullivan had every right to blow up after the referees screwed him out of a second defensive touchdown and the league should be embarrassed by that officiating performance. Sure, the Vikings themselves were to blame for their deficit on the scoreboard, I get that, but to say having your comeback thwarted 3 times by unbelievably poor officiating is frustrating, is a massive understatement. Michael Pittman was still fighting forward on the first fumble. At no point should the play have been blown dead for his forward progress being stopped. I have no idea what that official saw that compelled him to call a facemask penalty on Kris Boyd during Jalen Reagor’s long punt return. It ended up costing the Vikings 65 yards in field position. The Vikings had just cut the deficit to 2 scores and possessed all the momentum, they should have been set up on the Colts 24 yard line with a chance to cut their deficit to 1 score. The second defensive touchdown taken away from Sullivan was definitely the most egregious. Somehow they ruled the ball carrier down by contact when he was standing straight up. I’ve never seen anything like it. The officials are instructed to let the play happen and then review it for accuracy after the fact. That’s now 3 plays in the last 2 games where they’ve completely ignored that directive, including Justin Jefferson’s long catch in Detroit where he never stepped out of bounds. The Vikings, for all intents and purposes, should have had the game tied with over 5 minutes remaining. The fact the Vikings were able to overcome such brutal officiating and still pull off the biggest upset in league history is nothing short of spectacular.
Let’s not let all of that overshadow the Vikings’ effort. Once again Kirk Cousins was fantastic. He’s willing this team week in and week out despite seeing the most pressure in the league. At this point there’s really no cure for any Vikings fan who can’t get on board with Kirk. His effort and resilience win me over every week. It’s a credit to him to understand when it was time to lean on KJ Osborn rather than Jefferson, and Osborn rewarded him for it, having the best game of his career, which in turn opened things up for Jefferson late in the game. That effort and leadership is contagious. On the screen pass Dalvin Cook took for a 64 yard touchdown, Christian Darrisaw, TJ Hockenson, and Ezra Cleveland were still by his side as he crossed the goal line. As long as Kirk hasn’t given up, no other Viking will either, and it shows.
The comeback wasn’t possible without Minnesota’s defense making some plays. In order for the offense to catch up on the scoreboard the defense needed to keep the Colts’ score the same in the second half, which they nearly did with the exception of one field goal. In total the Vikings’ defense only gave up 1 touchdown on the day and only 22 of the Colts’ 36 points, making it one of their better performances on the scoreboard and stat sheet, but it was also against one of the worst offensive teams in the league. We are far enough into the season now to know what good offensive teams can do against this soft defense. Nothing has changed and the Vikings won’t be playing any offenses comparable to the Colts’ in late January. I love in these close games they make clutch plays at the right time, I’ve written about it repeatedly here, but on the road to the Super Bowl, they’re going to need more than just a few clutch plays.
I’ve been very hard on Greg Joseph throughout the season, but I’ll give credit when it’s due. He mostly did his part on Sunday. The Vikings needed every point possible to pull off the largest comeback in league history, and Joseph made all 4 of his XPs and the game winning field goal in overtime. I do wish he’d kick more of his kickoffs through the endzone, though. Indianapolis’s kick returner averaged 35 yards per return over 5 attempts. The Vikings’ coverage team wasn’t having its best day, help them out and kick the ball through the endzone. And of course, what more can I say about Ryan Wright? He averaged 46 yards per punt, including a 63 yarder and a nearly perfect punt downed at the 2 yard line to close out regulation, eliminating any chance for Indianapolis to attempt any last second heroics. Needless to say, if there has to be any criticism, he was a much better punter than passer on Saturday.
The 2022 Vikings have taken years off my life but I’ve never seen a team so resilient. It’s a great trait to have. To call them frauds is idiotic and doing so just goes to show how many feeble minded football fans let the the media form their opinions for them. They’ve had a tougher schedule than Philadelphia, Dallas, and San Francisco. Eight teams Minnesota has played this year have defenses ranked in the top 12. Being 11-3 is a badge of honor they’ve earned the hard way. Over the last 2 weeks Dallas barely beat 1 win Houston and lost to now 6-8 Jacksonville, where are the media conversations calling them frauds? Kansas City needed overtime to beat the 1 win Texans this week, barely beat the 3 win Broncos last week, and earlier in the season lost to the these same Colts the Vikings just beat. Where are the articles calling them frauds? Do the Vikings have flaws? Absolutely. Every team does, but not every team knows how to perform when they’re back is up against a wall, and I’ve come to believe this team thrives in that scenario. They are the most battle-tested team in the NFL. So stop worrying about the media, stop worrying about what the Vikings aren’t, and start loving what they are….NFC North Champions who believe and need us to be on board for the ride. SKOL!
Thomas Tom Wendelgass
... and neither is this Chris guy.