ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert has all the quotes:
Referring to the play of cornerbacks Asher Allen and Chris Cook, defensive tackle Kevin Willaims said “At some point, we’ve got to make plays when we get a chance. They weren’t running screens. They were just throwing the ball.”
Defensive end Ray Edwards, who blew up at the two defensive backs on the sideline said Cook and Allen just need to do their job, “That’s the bottom line. If everybody do their job, we’re a great team.”
Antoine Winfield on the play of his fellow d-backs: “Quarterbacks and offensive coordinators are very smart. They’re going to go after the young guy. … Either you’re going to crumble under the pressure or you’re going to stand up and hold your own. We just didn’t do that today.”
Tight end Visanth(e) Shiancoe was frank in his assessment of his team. Asked if everyone gave the required effort, he replied “Nope. Nope. Nope.” Regarding the team’s overall performance, Shiancoe said, “That’s atrocious. That’s bad. That’s bad football, and that’s something that’s embarrassing to me. It’s embarrassing to the organization. I’m pretty sure it’s embarrassing to everybody.”
Remember what I said Saturday about how teams react when they’ve been utterly dominated?
This is how the Vikings reacted. They imploded. They played joylessly.
At least we didn’t have a linebacker run over to the Packers’ sideline and get in Mike McCarthy‘s face for scoring their final touchdown like Cowboy linebacker Keith Brooking did to the Vikings last year.
That would’ve been heaping embarrassment on top of embarrassment.
VIKINGS NEMESIS
In 2004, writer Chuck Klosterman defined the difference between an archenemy and a nemesis:
“You kind of like your nemesis, despite the fact that you despise him. If your nemesis invited you out for cocktails, you would accept the offer. If he died, you would attend his funeral and—privately—you might shed a tear over his passing. But you would never have drinks with your archenemy, unless you were attempting to spike his gin with hemlock. If you were to perish, your archenemy would dance on your grave, and then he’d burn down your house and molest your children. You hate your archenemy so much that you try to keep your hatred secret, because you don’t want your archenemy to have the satisfaction of being hated.”
For me, anyway, the Packers are the Vikings nemesis (but they were more so when Brett Favre was their quarterback). Given our 50 years of shared history, it’s hard not to have a certain respect for the team. Especially this year when they have had half their team go down to season-ending injuries and yet have still managed to put a pretty good team on the field.
Favre’s interception throw offers an excellent reason why the Packers are our nemesis.
Late in the second quarter, Favre drove the Vikings to the Packers 25 yard line only to throw a pick to cornerback Tramon Williams. Williams jumped Percy Harvin‘s slant route for the pick because prior to the snap, he recognized the route from the Vikings formation and was therefore able to anticipate the throw.
It’s hard not to have some respect for that kind of play.
Not that I won’t wish them ill the rest of the season. And take comfort, Vikings fans: The Packers are going to have to face the Eagles somewhere down the line if they’re going to make a playoff run; there’s no way they’re getting around Michael Vick, whom they did not have to face last time.