Emotion has as much to do with this as my feelings on the Vikings "take that!" TD at the end of last weeks game. Which is to say, nothing. It's an opinion based on facts, but I think it's as valid as any other. A QB who gets hit that many times should be sacked at least once if all the hits were legal (and in the case of at least two and IMHO three of the Saints' hits on Favre, we know they WEREN'T. ) Brees got sacked, and Favre didn't; guess which one can walk today.

Mind, I'm not accusing them of "cheating" in the absolute sense. I don't think it affected the outcome of the game at all, not even on Favres "throw it to the purple guy in between those three brown guys" pick at the end of regulation. It didn't make the Vikings fumble away what could have (should have) proved the Saints one costly turnover at the end of the first half, the one that could've avoided OT. It didn't make them put twelve men in the huddle on the last play of regulation (maybe Childress is the one who needs playoff experience. )

I think it was "dirty" in the sense embodied by the term "unnecessary roughness" but I don't think they stole the game or anything. Minnesota served it up to them on a silver platter, and that's no ones fault but theirs. Again, I think they win in Minnesota, but maybe they find a way to give up a game they should win anywhere. I referenced this last night when we spoke as Minnesota choked away their trip to a fifth Super Bowl. You've heard me use a phrase my dad also used a lot "Looks like it'll come down to who wants to lose the most. " Someone thinks there might be some grim truth to that gallows humor, and, all things considered, I think he may be right. Skip over the Magic references if you like, ignore the reference to your favorite baseball team or even the application to teams like the historical Vikings and Oilers. Because I think there's some life truth here that's scary as hell: Sometimes people set THEMSELVES up to fail, and some people do it habitually. Not that I've ever met anyone like that....