Falcons upset Vikings, clinch playoff spot

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 12/25/2008

To finish first, you must first finish. The Vikings failed to finish and blew a golden opportunity on Sunday, losing 24-17 at home to Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.

Before the kickoff, both teams knew the winner of Sunday's game would make the playoffs. The Vikings committed four turnovers and helped the Falcons clinch a Wild Card playoff spot.

Rookie sensation quarterback Matt Ryan played mistake-free football in leading the Falcons to victory and the playoffs. The Falcons took the game's opening kickoff and marched 74 yards to grab an early 7-0 lead. The Vikings came right back to tie the game when quarterback Tavaris Jackson drove his team 90 yards in 12 plays and hit tight end Visanthe Shiancoe with a 21-yard touchdown pass.

The game turned when Bernard Berrian muffed a punt at the Vikings' 22-yard line. The Falcons, just like dirty birds, pounced on the football and Ryan quickly put the Falcons back on top by throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerious Norwood: 14-7 Falcons.

From that point on, the Vikings could not stop making mistakes. Adrian Peterson fumbled on the Falcons' 17-yard line just when it looked like the Vikings were about to tie the game.

The Falcons, a year removed from losing star quarterback Michael Vick to dog fighting charges and having then-Head Coach Bobby Petrino quit the team, finished 4-12 in 2007. New Head Coach Mike Smith, a candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, has led the Falcons to a remarkable 10-5 record in the rugged NFC South.

The Falcons, much like the Vikings, like to run the football, and they did with the NFL's second-leading rusher Michael Turner running for 70 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings clearly missed All-Pro defensive tackle Pat Williams, out with a fracture in his right shoulder. The Falcons' bread-and-butter ball control game worked.

When the Vikings had chances to tie the game, they simply could not hold on to the ball. “They did a good job of knocking the ball out,” said Peterson. “The way that I fight for yards, you have one job to do — protect the ball. You have 11 guys trying to do one thing — knock the ball out.”

The Vikings had seven fumbles; they recovered three and lost four. When Peterson is not at the top of his game and Jared Allen gets no sacks, the Vikings are vulnerable.

“A lot of teams would love to be in our position,” said Peterson, “right now still even with a loss today. We just have to put this one behind and get ready for New York next week and handle our business.”

Jackson again played well at quarterback, throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He even scrambled for 76 yards, but the Vikings just could not cage these birds.

When Ryan fumbled at the one-yard line after being blasted by linebacker Ben Leber, the ball rolled into the end zone and Darren Sharper muffed on a recovery. Trying to pick the loose ball up and run for a touchdown, he missed it, and Falcon guard Justen Blalock recovered for a touchdown that gave the Falcons a 24-7 lead.

“It was a momentum changer,” said Sharper. “I figured I had it right there, clear sailing with nobody around me. I tried to pick it up. I just did not get it.”

If the Vikings don't handle their business, the Chicago Bears could still grab the NFC North. The Bears hosted the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football; they can tie the Vikings with a win. However, a loss would hand the NFC North to the Vikings.

The Vikings also can still win the NFC North by beating the New York Giants next Sunday. The Giants clinched the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by beating Carolina 34-28 in overtime. They may treat next Sunday's game like an exhibition and keep many of their stars out. That's easier said than done — they are the defending Super Bowl Champions.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.