Game 15: Vikings Lose To Falcons 24-17

The first Viking game I ever viewed was with my father way back in the early 1960’s. Fran Tarkenton was scrambling around making big plays. That day I became a Viking fan.

My father passed away Monday morning, December 22nd, 2008. He had a massive heart attack. The day before, Sunday, I visited Dad in the hospital. He wanted to watch the game and as our luck would have it, the Viking – Falcon game was the national Fox game at 4pm. Normally here in Youngstown, Ohio, the Vikings are rarely shown on TV.

The Falcons won the game, 24-17 and played a very good game taking advantage of the Vikings 7 fumbles (Losing 4 of them) scoring 17 of their 24 points on the turnovers. This would be the last game we would ever watch together.

During the game, my Dad made several comments about the Vikings. He said that Adrian Peterson could very well be one of the best running backs of all time if he can get his fumbling under control. He also said that Jackson looked good, played well, and perhaps his benching made him more focused. High praise indeed from a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan.

Peterson did not have a stellar day, held to under 100 yards and his fumbles. Tarvaris Jackson however, had one of his best days ever. he was 22 for 36 for 233 yards and two touchdown passes and zero interceptions. And 76 yards on 8 scrambles. Fran Tarkenton had to be proud that day with Jackson’s performance.

Coach Brad Childress had the team prepared to play, but the fumbles prevented that. I will also say that Shiancoe had an outstanding game, 7 catches for 136 yards and two scores.

Dad and I watched our first Viking game together, and also our last game together.
Rest In Peace Dad.

SKOL VIKINGS!

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