View from Parts Unknown:
Fourteen down, two to go. It’s time for the BMTN blog/commentary/huh? thing we do during every Vikings game. Today’s contest pits Minnesota (2-12) versus Washington (5-9) in a battle of two teams going nowhere, except for the Purple, who are now neck and neck with Indianapolis and St. Louis for choosing No. 1 in the next NFL Draft. There’s also the “worst team ever” storyline. The Vikings need to win one more to tie their all-time worst 3-13 record. Two losses, and they’re 2-14 — the bottom of the barrel, all time. That’s the set-up. Now here’s what really happened:
FINAL: VIKINGS 33, REDSKINS 26 — Game over. Vikes go to 3-12 on the season — thanks to Webb and Gerhart.
2:56: VIKINGS 33, REDSKINS 26 — Gano hits 47-yard FG to trim lead to a touchdown with 1:25 left.
2:44: VIKINGS 33, REDSKINS 23 — Chip shot field goal from Longwell after INT gives Vikes 10-point lead with 4:05 to go.
2:40: Christmas Eve miracle! Vikings interception! 7:32 to go in 4th quarter, Mistral Raymond picks off Rex Grossman. As Paul Allen puts it: “The absurd streak comes to an end!”
2:39: Redskins should have tied it, but TD called back because of holding call. Washington forced to punt.
2:37: Who needs Andrew Luck when we have Ponder and Webb? Quarterback controversy in 2012?
2:34: VIKINGS 30, REDSKINS 23 — Shootout continues as Joe Webb hits Percy Harvin on eight-yard TD pass.
2:24: VIKINGS 23, REDSKINS 23 — Gano ties it again with 26-yard field goal with 12:41 left in fourth quarter.
2:12: VIKINGS 23, REDSKINS 20 — Webb hits Kyle Rudolph on a 17-yard TD pass to give Vikes lead again. Longwell misses first extra point of year to make it a 3-point spread.
2:09: Gerhart rips off another big run. He already has 93 yards on five carries.
2:04: REDSKINS 20, VIKINGS 17 — Grossman hits Gaffney on a 4-yard strike as Redskins quickly take back lead.
1:56: VIKINGS 17, REDSKINS 13 — Webb runs it in from the 9-yard-line as Minnesota capitalizes on huge Gerhart run.
1:54: Backup RB Toby Gerhart takes snap from backup QB Joe Webb, and goes on a 67-yard run — the longest of the season for the Vikings.
1:52: REDSKINS 13, VIKINGS 10 — Gano hits 53-yard FG to give Washington first lead of day.
1:47: Ponder shaken up after helmet-to-helmet shot from London Fletcher. Out for the rest of the day with a concussion. This is getting extremely ugly.
1:40: Adrian Peterson down, looks like left knee injury. Looks real, real bad — perhaps an ACL. As he’s being helped off field, he can’t put any pressure on left leg. Right now, AP 67 yards short of Vikings rushing record.
1:39: Second half starts, Vikes have the ball at their 12-yard-line.
1:30: Halftime viewing: Andrew Luck highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zputbI9YoHE
1:21: VIKINGS 10, REDSKINS 10 — Graham Gano kicks 26-yard field goal after Redskins drive stalls at the Vikings’ 9-yard-line.
1:12: Jared Allen sacks Grossman. That’s 18.5 on the season, nearing Strahan’s all-time NFL record.
1:08: KFAN’s Dan Cole Tweets: “What a terrible team…..” We’re pretty sure he’s talking about the Vikings.
1:07: Vikings look to be unraveling as Longwell misses 49-yard FG, slipping on turf. On previous play — 4th and 1 — Peterson called for a false start.
12:59: Webb in at quarterback, runs the option. Gains 17 yards. Now, that looked good. (And it always does when it works.)
12:55: VIKINGS 10, REDSKINS 7 — Donte Stallworth catches a 5-yard TD pass from Grossman. Benny Sapp, who tackled like a senior citizen during the drive, tries to sell Stallworth fumble and runs it back. No one is buying it. Three-point game.
12:49: Somewhat more cynical tweet from Star Tribunes’ Jim Souhan: “Redskins have been bribed by the Colts to throw this game. At least, I hope that’s their excuse.”
12:47: Tweet from KFAN’s Paul Charchian on Ponder: “Say what you want about Christian Ponder, but you can’t deny that the kid is playing with a ton of heart. He doesn’t have any quit in him.”
12:46: VIKINGS 10, REDSKINS 0 — Adrian Peterson pounds it in from the 1-yard line to give Purple 10-point lead early in the second quarter.
12:40: Ponder hammered after he was down. Nasty, nasty hit by ‘Skins Reed Doughty.
12:25: Even though Vikes scored, Brian Murphy of Pioneer Press Tweets about recent foibles following fumbles: “So 3 fumble recoveries inside opponents’ 30-yard line last two weeks and the Vikings have only managed minus-8 yards of offense and 3 FGs.”
12:22: VIKINGS 3, REDSKINS 0 — Ryan Longwell hits a 36-yard field goal following fumble recovery.
12:19: Grossman sacked by Brian Robison, who recovers fumble in the ‘Skins red zone.
12:09: Christian Ponder leads purple in first series. Adrian Peterson gets four yards, and is now 100 yards from setting Vikings all-time rushing record. Check out highlights from his rookie season in 2007:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW5WQ5Uykjc
12:05: Shiancoe drops pass that hits him in numbers. Reminds us of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW8aXD9I300
12:04: Jamarca Sanford, almost intercepts Rex Grossman, then leaves field clutching shoulder. Vikes still haven’t picked off a pass since October. Will this be the week?
12:02:Kickoff at FedEx Field. Redskins get the ball first… start on their own 20 after Longwell kicks it out of the end zone.
11:34: Rick Lubbers, Duluth News-Tribune sports columnist, shouts from his mountaintop:“Just Lose, baby.”
