Redskins KO Vikings Late 17-14

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Today in the D30 Legends EFL

The Minnesota Vikings hopes of back to back Super Bowl wins came to an end today as the Washington Redskins handed them a 17-14 loss in an epic defensive battle. The Vikings took the opening kickoff at their own 22 and drove 78 yards in 9 plays when QB Tommy Kramer hit WR Chris Carter down the right sideline for a 32 yard TD pass and a 7-0 lead. The Vikings ran the ball 8 straight times between Adrian Peterson and Chuck Foreman to get the ball to the Skins 32 to set up the TD pass. Both then exchanged punts and the 1st quarter ended 7-0 Minnesota. On the Redskins second possesion John Randle sacked Redskin QB Joe Theisman for an 8 yd loss and Washington had to punt again. Minnesota took over at their own 18 and began running again having much success. On 1st and 10 from their own 45 Adrian Peterson ran left and got a great leaping block to spring him on a 55 yd TD run. (see photo). The extra point put the Vikings up 14-0. The Vikings were dominating the line of scrimmage and controling the game until late in the 2nd quarter Washington finally hit on a big play a 30 yard pass from Theismann to TE Chris Cooley down to the Vikings 26 at the 2 minute warning. John Riggins then ran for 5 yards to the Minnesota 21. The next play saw RB Larry Brown(43) run through a huge hole off right tackle 21 yards to paydirt to get Washington back in the game at 14-7 with :56 left in the half(see photo). The Vikings ran out the clock and led 14-7 at halftime. Washington came out of the locker room like a new team. After a touchback the Skins started a drive for their own 20 and started to move the ball on the ground. The drive stalled at the Skins 44 and they punted again. Minnesota went 3 and out and Washington got the ball back at their own 23. RB Clinton Portis ran for 7 to the 30 yardline but 2 incomplete passes forced Washington to punt again. Momentum seemed to change when Mike Bragg shanked a punt for just 10 yards and minnesota took over from the Redskins 40. Peterson then ran for 5 yards to the Skins 35. Chuck Foreman then ran left for 4 yards setting up a 3rd and 1 from the Washington 31. Head coach Bud Grant then called for another run. Adrian Peterson ran left but Redskins DT Charles Mann darted through and hit Peterson for a yard loss. This was the turning point of the game. Minnesota kicker gary Anderson attempted a 50 yard field goal but missed left and Washington was in business at their own 40. Theisman finally hit on a pass finding Art Monk on the sideline for 16 yards to the Viking 44 as time was winding down in the 3rd quarter. On the final play of the 3rd quarter Theismann hit Clinton Portis out of the backfield and he weaved through the Minnesota secondary for a 44 yd TD to tie things up at 14. One quarter would decide the outcome of this defensive battle. Minnesota return man John Gilliam then muffed the kickoff but was able to fall on it at the Viking 17. Minnesota was still running well with Foreman and Peterson and were able to move the ball to the Redskin 46. the big play a 24 yd completion to John Gilliam at the 7:58 mark. Peterson was stopped for no gain by Dexter Manley on 1st down. Kramer was then sacked for a 6 yd loss by Dave Butz back to the Minnesota 48. On 3rd down Kramer threw to the sideline for Chris Carter but redskin DB Pat Fischer picked it off at the 35 and returned it 12 yards to the Washington 47 with just 3:48 to go in the game. This was the games only turnover. The "Hogs" then took over and Washington began to run the ball well against a tiring defense. This was the prolific smashmouth NFC East type drive. John riggins who was held in check most of the afternoon broke off a couple of good runs including a 12yd run as seen in the photo below. At the 2 minute warning the redskins were 1st and 10 at the Minnesota 21 well within the range of kicker mark Moseley. Riggins gained 1 to the Viking 20 as the Vikings took their first timeout. On second down Portis ran right and Minnesota's John Randle broke through and tackled him for a 7 yd loss back to the 27 yard line . Timeout Vikings. Their 2nd. At this point Washington was looking at a 44 yd field goal and on 3rd down Gibbs decided not to risk the pass. John Riggins got the call but he was only able to get 2 yards to the Viking 25. Minnesota spent their final timeout with just :25 left in the game. On 4th down Moseley drilled a 42 yd field goal to give Washington its first lead of the day 17-14 with :20 remaining and leaving the Vikings with no timeouts. John Gilliam fielded the kickoff at his own 16 and for some reason he took a hard left and ran out of bounds at his own 28 with just :11 to go. Minnesota got a big from a penalty on the Redskins for having 12 men on the field and a re-kick. This time the Vikings put Adrian Peterson deep. Peterson fielded the kick on his own 21 and started downfirld when Washingtons Chris cooley shot through and tackled him at the Viking 38 with just :06 left. On first down Kramer missed Gilliam on a quick slant and the clock stopped with just 1 tick left. It was Hail mary time. Kramer dropped back and hit Gilliam at the Redskin 45 but he attracted more Redskins than Custer and was tackled at the 40 as time ran out. This was an epic NFC battle hard fought and won by a Redskin team that shutout the Vikings in the second half. Washington will now move on to their first NFC Championship Game in 29 years when thay go to the Georgia Dome next week to play the Falcons.