"Ball on the Ground"

It's not surprising the Vikings choked on the big stage.
The composition of their team doesn't even matter, they'll find a way to lose.
And the season filled with such palpable expectations and another comeback by Brett Favre ended Sunday night in New Orleans.
Prior to the game the Vikings sang of pants on the ground, but it was the ball and their quarterback who ended up on the turf most often.
Minnesota fumbled the ball six times and the offensive line allowed the Saints to hit Brett Favre on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks, stalling the offense just enough to grant New Orleans its first trip to the Super Bowl with a 31-28 overtime victory Sunday night.
While it wasn't 1998 all over again, nor were they heavily favored (underdogs by 3 1/2, in fact) like 1970 in Super Bowl IV against Kansas City, the Norsemen found a way to crush the spirits of their loyal fanbase in a game they should have won.
Befitting, Favre once again has a chance to end his career with an interception (he threw one in overtime against the Giants in the 2008 NFC Championship Game, prior to announcing his retirement for the first time).
Throughout, this game was vintage Favre. A combination of talent, grittiness and competitiveness, the ageless wonder took a beating a la Frank Mir against Brock Lesnar Part II, yet continued to make plays. He took a high-low hit midway through the second half, badly injuring his ankle on the play, but limped back onto the field grimacing and ready for more on the next series.
In the end, though, his desire to win took a toll. Rather than scampering for a few yards or throwing the ball away to give Ryan Longwell an opportunity to kick a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, Favre grew bold -- committing a cardinal sin for quarterbacks -- and threw the pigskin back across the field right into the awaiting arms of Saints cornerback Tracy Porter.
The Saints won the coin toss, drove down the field and Garrett Hartley kicked the air out of the Vikings for the final time and his team into a Feb. 7 showdown with Indianapolis.
A check into the stats indicates a rather different picture than the 31-28 outcome. The Vikings more than doubled the Saints in first downs (31-15) and third down efficiency (58%-25%) and nearly did so in total yards (475 to 257). Minnesota also had twice as many red zone trips as New Orleans (6 to 3).
The playing field was evened by five Vikings turnovers. Third best in the league at taking care of the ball during the regular season, Minnesota coughed it up six times (three lost) and Favre added two interceptions.
Give New Orleans some credit for its aggressive ball-hawk mindset (second in the NFL in takeaways in 2009). Much of the fault lands on the dreadful ball security by the Vikings. Such blunders have become a customary observation for close followers of the Purple and Gold.
Still that's no consolation prize big enough to make the lump in the throat and extra weight in the stomach (beyond the beer and brats) go away. ... Recoup, regroup and prepare for next year.

NOTE: American Idol sensation and creator of the rap "Pants on the Ground," Larry Platt, 62, performed in front of the Vikings team prior to the start of the game.