Vikings spoil Bush’s night

NEW ORLEANS—The Saints gave a national audience a taste of what New Orleans’ long-suffering fans have bemoaned for years.
Not that the Minnesota Vikings will complain about being the latest to play a supporting role in the Saints’ stranger-than-fiction, four-decade history of bizarre and dramatic losses.

Even Reggie Bush’s record-tying two punt returns for touchdowns couldn’t make up for New Orleans’ numerous blunders in a 30-27 loss to Minnesota last night.
The Saints’ second failed field goal attempt—the first was blocked and returned 59 yards for a touchdown—allowed the Vikings to drive for Ryan Longwell’s game-winning 30-yard field goal with 13 seconds left.
“It’s probably one of the weirdest games I’ve ever been involved in,” Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees said. “Just the way this thing kind of went back and forth. I’m trying to digest it all right now and in the end it’s a loss.
“That’s extremely disappointing, especially when once again we have a chance to win it at the end.”
Even some of the Vikings’ mistakes somehow worked in their favour.
Bernard Berrian caught the game-tying touchdown pass with 7:10 to play after running the wrong route and nearly colliding with intended receiver Aundrae Allison. And when Vikings’ linebacker Chad Greenway yanked Bush’s face mask, the officials didn’t call a penalty, but Bush fumbled, stalling a promising New Orleans drive.
It all made for a thrilling contest and a satisfying win for the Vikings (2-3), who desperately needed one.
“This is as good a win as it gets,” Vikings’ coach Brad Childress said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been involved in one that went that way.”
The Vikings had stolen a bizarre victory in the Louisiana Superdome before. In 2002, the Vikings—already out of the playoffs—elected to go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point to tie a game at 31 in the final seconds.
Daunte Culpepper fumbled the snap but still managed to score in a 32-31 victory that started a three-game losing streak that caused New Orleans to miss the playoffs.
This time the quarterback was Gus Frerotte, who repeatedly delivered clutch throws under heavy pressure, absorbed several hard hits, and at one point needed a doctor’s clearance to return to action. He passed for 222 yards and his only TD was the one Berrian unexpectedly snagged.
The Vikings’ other touchdown pass was thrown by halfback Chester Taylor, who found Visanthe Shiancoe from four yards out.
Martin Gramatica, who had the field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, missed a 46-yarder that could have given the Saints (2-3) a lead with two minutes to go.