Vikings coach Brad Childress was fuming about the officiating following last night’s bitter 28-24 loss in Green Bay to the Packers. In a tense Central Division game the Vikings moved two games under .500 at 2-4 while the Packers record went to 4-3, and afterward Childress was angry during his post-game interview on KFAN Radio.
Trailing 28-24 in the last minute of the game the Vikings had a first down at the Green Bay 15-yard line after Adrian Peterson ran 20 yards on a pass from quarterback Brett Favre. On first down tight end Visanthe Shiancoe was called for a false start five-yard penalty. With first and 15 an official called a face mask penalty on right tackle Phil Loadholt.
The Vikings were looking at first and 30 from their 35 yard line, and Childress was livid about the penalty on Loadholt. “The guy (the umpire) hadn’t called a penalty all night long,” Childress said on KFAN. “And then I don’t know if he got religion or what happened. …And now we’re gonna get a face mask. Come on now. Come on.”
Childress said the game “was the worst officiated game” he’s seen. He also said one official came over and apologized to him for not calling Green Bay left tackle Chad Clifton for holding. “Holding his tail off,” Childress said.
It was a night of misfortune for the Vikings. In the first half TV pictures appeared to show that Packers tight end Andrew Quarless didn’t have both feet in bounds in the end zone but the officials ruled he scored a touchdown on a nine yard reception.
Perhaps the most controversial call of the night came in the second quarter. Shiancoe appeared to make a diving catch for a touchdown but after looking at the replay the officials ruled the Vikings tight end didn’t have possession of the ball. Instead of seven points, the Vikings later settled for three on a field goal to go ahead 17-14, and lost a very meaningful four points.
The officials did correctly rule that Percy Harvin had only one foot in the end zone on a 35-yard pass from Favre after the penalty on Loadholt. The catch would have been a miracle ending to a game where Favre was trying to change from flop to hero.
The former Packers quarterback threw three interceptions in the second half. One of those INT’s was by Desmond Bishop who ran 32 yards to score late in the third quarter. The Packers went ahead 28-24.
In the second half Favre re-injured his left ankle. A limping Favre tried to battle through the closing minutes and help produce a win but the game ended with frustration, a word that describes his season so far and that of a Vikings team that last year was within one play of making the Super Bowl.
Favre’s troubles include a bad ankle, sore arm and an investigation by the NFL regarding alleged texts and pictures to Jenn Sterger when both she and Favre were with the Jets. After last night a national TV audience was pondering whether Favre can recover both on the field and off.
With a game in New England next Sunday against the 5-1 Patriots, the Vikings have to be wondering not only about their quarterback but whether they can send their season into comeback mode too.
Neither Favre nor his teammates will have to wait long for some answers.