Vikings, Favre Score a Classless Late TD Against the Cowboys

As a Redskins' fan, I love to see the Cowboys humiliated. When I saw the 34-3 score, I was thrilled. But wait, weren't the Vikings up 27-3 after the 2 minute warning? Yep. So what happened? With 1:55 left to go, the Vikings had the ball on Dallas' 11 yard line on fourth down with 3 yards to go. Rather than kick the easy field goal or even run in an attempt to drain more time off the clock, Favre dropped back and threw his fourth TD pass of the day. Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking took exception. "I think it was totally classless and disrespectful." Brooking told Vikings' head coach Brad Childress exactly what he thought of it on the sideline too. Both Childress and Favre, however, say they were merely staying aggressive to the end.

This season has shown many people another side of Favre. Rather than say he wanted to play for Minnesota in the offseason, Favre announced his retirement. As soon as training camp ended, Favre "changed his mind" and became a Viking. Tensions arose between Favre and Childress because Favre was changing the call too much at the line and because Favre refused to be pulled out of the game against the Panthers. Now, he's kicking a dog when it's down and running up the score. What happened to the old selfless Favre that we used to cheer for? That part of him seems to be the only part that has retired.

The reason I criticize Favre is because I would not be at all surprised if he changed that play at the line to a pass. Childress, the same coach that wanted to pull Favre in a game in which his team was winning 7-6, was ok with his (let's face it) old, fragile quarterback dropping back and throwing with less than 2 minutes to go and a 24 point lead? Seems doubtful and he would never admit it now with all the media scrutiny his team faced after the Carolina debacle. But regardless of who made the call, it was totally classless and definitely was running up the score.

Let's look at the alternatives. Fourth and 3 on the 11 yard line with less than 2 minutes left. The Cowboys just used all their timeouts to try and get the ball back, but the game is over. What most people would have done is kick the field goal. Some may still criticize the Vikings for running up the score, but it would tick a few seconds off and the Vikings would then be able to pin the Cowboys deep on the kick off. Favre wouldn't even be on the field. Second, you could try to run for the first down. If you get it, you can run the clock out and celebrate a well deserved playoff win. The Vikings wouldn't have been risking anything if they turned the ball over as the Cowboys would have gotten the ball at their own 11. They even could have taken a knee. The game was over.

Instead Favre dropped back and threw a TD. What do they risk here? A pissed off Dallas defense could have bull rushed Favre and injured him on the play. While Adrian Peterson is clearly the biggest weapon on this team, the Vikings are now emotionally tied to Favre and a loss that big would be devastating. What do you gain? Nothing. Pure and simple. The Vikings can say what they want about being aggressive, but the game was over. I'm not saying take a knee, but there was no need for this. Put the shoe on the other foot. Do you think the Vikings would have shrugged this off and say "it's our job to stop them"? Absolutely not. In fact, had the Cowboys put an exclamation point on what could be Favre's last NFL game, he would have been very upset and people would be outraged about rubbing it in Favre's face.

What this season has showed us is the utter selfishness of Brett Favre. Why do I think Favre called that play? Because he had never thrown 4 TD passes in a playoff game before and he had one last shot when no one was really expecting it. "This is what I came back for," said Favre afterwards. I'm sure glad sportsmanship didn't ruin his big day.