Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions: 4th quarter running diary
December 11, 2011The 4th quarter starts with a nicely designed fake reverse into a screen to Williams. 1st down at the Vikes' 23.
Now there's a horse collar! 15 yards!
Even the blind could see this penalty...
Lions 1st and 10 at the Vikes' 12!
Williams bursts off tackle, 8 yards! 3rd and 2. But he's stuffed on 3rd down for no gain.
Lions go for it on 4th and 1 from the 2. Nope, they are going to run the clock, then take the delay of game. Billick loves the gamesmanship, though I wouldn't have minded if the Lions had gone for it.
The chip shot is good, Lions up 34-28.
Harvin in the kickoff, and rips a near 50 yard retrun to the 40.
CRAP. Eric Wright has a hammy, questionable to return.
If the Lions can keep Webb from running, they should be able to control the Vikes. It's called CONTAIN.
Webb scrambles, finds the TE for 10 yards on 3rd and 5. Vikes driving...Then throws 5 yards behind his receiver on 1st down.
Webb's arm is as accurate as a politcal ad.
Lions are desperate on D, S Chris Harris was lining up at CB.
Webb throws into traffic on 2nd down...near pick by Spivey!
3rd and 10....Webb runs 40 yards scrambling to gain 8. 4th and 2, 9:34 left. Will the Vikes go for it? Yes.
Gerhart gets 4 on misdirection. Drive stays alive.
The Vikes off offense has become all misdirection, with Webb running the ball. He gets another 1st down on a scramble, and the Vikes' are inside the Lions' 5.
More misdirection, Webb throws to an open Gerhart for the TD. Ridiculous the Lions are allowing the scatter armed Webb to keep the Vikings in the game.
Lions' D has been caught
with their pants down by Webb...
34-28, Lions desperately need points on offense.
Lions face 3rd and 5. The rushing game has done zip for the majority of the afternoon, making it hard to run clock.
Stafford to Burleson, 1st down, clock runing. The short pass = run.
2nd and 1, Williams doesn't move the pile, loses 2. The running game...isn't. Awful. Just awful.
3rd down pass to Young near midfield is short by a yard. Lions' will punt.
I'll out and out say it. If you can't stop Joe Webb, you deserve to lose.
Lions' gunners fail to to down the punt deep. I don't feel so good...
Brennaman calling this a must win. NO SHIT.
Webb scrambles for another 1st down. 2:56 left. FUCK.
Webb avoids what looks like a sure sack...then nearly throws a pick! DAMN.
3rd and 10 from the 33. Gerhart is knocked forward on a short catch, falls a yard short of the marker. 4th and 1, 2:17 left.
Gerhart is hit in the backfield, but it looks as if he got the yard needed. Chain gang will measure as we hit the...
1st down, 2:00 left. GUH!
Webb has the Vikes to the Lions' 38. SHIT!
Aromashodu drops a Webb pass at the Lions' 10....JEBUS!
1:11 left, 3rd and 2 at the Lions 2. Booker gets the 1st down. 1:00 left.
Amazing. Web to Aromashodu, 1st down at the Lions' 16. ARRGH!
Webb pass is overthrown in the end zone. WHEW!
I repeat. If you can't stop Joe Webb, you deserve to lose.
2nd and 10, 0:36 left, swing pass to Harvin to the 12. NO!
TO Vikings, 0:29 left. Need 6 to tie.
Webb's pass is behind Harvin! THANK FUCKING GOD.
It's 4th down...Webb scrambles all the way to the 2 yard line...Vikes will clock the ball! 0:09 left...and Avril is offsides? How dumb can you be? REALLY FUCKING DUMB.
Webb has 109 yards rushing. HOW?
1st and goal at the 1. Lions take a TO. 0:09 left. I NEED A DRINK.
Joe Webb has the Vikes on the verge of ending the Lions' season. Seriously? Joe Webb? One word...
AAAAARRRRRRR!
Lions D must come up MASSIVE with the season on the line. And here we go...
Webb rolls left...
Levy hits Webb in the backfield...BALLBALLBALLBALL!
Tulloch punches the ball upfield as the clock runs out!
Tulloch recovers on the Lions' 44! GAME OVER!
Uh...whoops.
As we see on the replays, the Lions got very, very lucky. Deandre Levy grabbed Webb by the face mask! You could sense it, seeing Webb's head jerk back in real time. But...no flag, never happened.
With a little help and more than a little luck, the Lions hold on by the narrowest of margins, 34-28. I said ealier the Lions would deserve to lose if they couldn't stop Joe Webb. They did. They won. So be it.
What's my knee jerk reaction to the face mask? Is it tainted? I don't care. Tes, the Lions' winning play should have been a penalty. I'll just chalk it up as karmic payback for the "Process of the catch" fiasco. So you could say the Lions had one coming.
I don't care if the win was deserved or not. If it was ugly rather than pretty. Lucky instead of earned.
A win is a win.
