Do the Cowboys have a right to be upset after Vikings run up the score?
There is an unwritten rule in sports about not running up the score when you have an opponent beaten. About the only exception to this rule is if said opponent had run up the score in a previous meeting.
On Sunday, the Vikings had their foot firmly placed on the Cowboys’ neck late in the fourth quarter. Up 27-3 with only two minutes remaining and the ball inside Dallas’ red zone, Minnesota could have ran a play on fourth down and not add any further embarrassment for the Cowboys. Instead, Brad Childress decided that one more score was in order and Brett Favre hit Visanthe Shiancoe on an 11-yard touchdown pass to put the cap on a 34-3 Vikings’ victory.
After the play, Dallas linebacker Keith Brooking went to Minnesota’s sidelines and started screaming at Favre, presumably because the Vikings decided to run up the score. Following the game, the FOX NFL Sunday broadcast pair of Jimmy Johnson and Terry Bradshaw debated whether or not Brooking and the Cowboys had a right to be upset. Johnson said Dallas should have stopped the Vikings if they didn’t want to be embarrassed, while Bradshaw claimed that it was a classless move by Minnesota.
Personally, I side with Johnson on this debate. If you don’t want a team to run up the score, then stop them. If you don’t want an opponent to embarrass you, then don’t embarrass yourself by getting into that position. After all, this isn’t a 7-year-old Pop Warner league – it’s the NFL. And don’t whine about it Cowboys – send a message that you’re not going to take that.
That said, I fully believe in karma and think Favre and Childress will get what’s coming to them. There was no reason to throw the ball in that spot and even though I agree that the Cowboys should have stopped them, it was still a classless move by the Vikings.
I’m sure I’ll catch some heat from Brett backers, but Favre’s act is getting tired. As a NFL fan, I loved watching him play this season and have always appreciated his enthusiasm for the game. But he pranced around the field today like a freaking ballerina on a mixture of coke and caffeine.
I won’t necessarily be cheering for this outcome, but I wouldn’t hesitate to crack a smile if the Saints rout the Vikings next Sunday.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Posted in: NFL
Tags: 2010 NFL Divisional Round Playoffs, Brad Childress, Brad Childress runs up score, Brett Favre, Brett Favre sucks, Dallas Cowboys, Headlines, Keith Brooking, Minnesota Vikings, Vikings beat Cowboys playoffs, Vikings classless, Vikings Cowboys game, Vikings run up score, Vikings run up score Cowboys
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So… How is it that the Saints “ran up the score” against the cards and nobody complains (they won by… 31 points) but everybody about Cr@ps their pants when the vikings… win by 31 points.
I don’t hear the outrage about the saints, all I hear is Favre haters saying how tired his act is, blah blah blah. Did the defense get yelled at for 6 sacks? should they have only given Romo 2, because 6 is “rubbing it in”?? Please, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen, Tony Romo fall down go boom and we are supposed to take pity on him….
First off, Anthony, I agree on both accounts. There’s no excuse for whining about someone running up the score. You tuck your tail and play your butt off, so it doesn’t get any worse. But there is no reason for running up the score on a team that you might play in next year’s playoffs. The saints did not run up the score, because their last offensive TD came in the first half, And didn’t score at all in the 4th quarter. You can’t just stop returning punts or someone will get hurt.
Call it what you want, but you know what the Vikings did was wrong. Lets say that the Cowboys did happen to stop them on that play and Favre took a hit and was knocked out for the rest of the playoffs, the story would be different and every one would lash out at the Cowboys for trying to take out Favre. YOU JUST DON’T TAKE THAT KIND OF A RISK. But you know what they say about pay back. I hope they meet next seasons sometime im sure the Cowboys won’t forget, just like when the Eagles try to do it a year ago, they made them pay too
I’m with Jimmywat – the Vikes didn’t have to do that, but on the other hand the Cowboys shouldn’t be whining about it. They got smoked – that’s the bigger problem.
Mr. Rodgers,
There is no comparison between the Saints-Cardinals game, and the Vikings-Cowboys game. NONE.
As Jimmywat noted, the Saints’ last offensive touchdown came in the second quarter – not two minutes left in the game when they were already up by 24 points. We’re talking about two entirely different situations here.
I thought Favre called an audible on the play so I may give Childress a pass on this one. If the Cowboys had done something to deserve that last kick in the nuts, I’d be ok with it. But they went for it three times in a row on 4th down in their own territory, virtually handing the game over to the Vikings. There was no reason for the Vikings to do anything other than run one up the middle on 4th down with 2 minutes to go and a 21 point lead.
I forget…when did respect for your opponent and sportsmanship go out the window in professional sports?
T-Bone,
If Favre called an audible, then I’d like to revoke everything I wrote about Childress above.
And I agree – the Cowboys waived the white flag at that point, which was also evident when they ran out the final minute and change after Favre’s fourth TD.
Saints game scrubs where in almost the whole 4th quarter, not Brees throwing td’s with mins to go.
I don’t see JJ’s and TB’s arguments as being mutually exclusive. It was an utterly classless move that the Cowboys should have manned up and stopped if they wanted to save themselves the embarrassment.
I don’t know what side to take on this… I was always told, “play to win boy”… and that’s what we did… I know if I was on the Vikings side of the ball I would be wanting to score, and if I was on the Dallas side of the ball I would be thinking, “where is the 2nd string?” When I came in to work this morning a Dallas fan was asked what happened? His response, “We got our tails handed to us!”
If this was regular season I’d say it was a classless move, however as its the play-offs I say play hard or go home – you play 110% from the start to the end, nothing less.
Two good reasons to root for the Saints next week: 1. Brett Favre (Egomaniac)
2. Al Franken (MN Senator)
Enough said.
Running up the score? This isn’t little Tommy and little Joey playing mity-mite football, it’s the NFL..where most guys carry guns. These are people that line up and hit each other for 60 minutes with helmets on.
Should we call Dr Phil to see what he thinks? Maybe Ellen or Opra can shed some light on what it truely means to run up the score.
Loosers that what they are.
All we kept hearing about all week was how tough the Dallas defense was….well why didn’t they stop that TD pass? Phillips has to be is serious trouble and I doubt he will keep his job. Great guy but can’t get to the big dance!!
Funny…you guys that have no problem with this are the same ones that would be bitching if it was done to your team. You probably were when Belichick and Brady were shoving it up the entire NFL’s ass in the final 2 minutes of nearly every game in 2007
The Vikings defense was just to much for them. I wouldn’t say the Cowboys didn’t want to stop them but at that point in the game you don’t throw the ball. You could tell by the Cowboys defense they expected a run because that is what you do out of respect. If they doj’t stop the run and you score than no foul, but to throw it on 4th down????? The Vikings were the better team that day but the Cowboys didn’t deserve that after they had conceded. I have been a Favre fan for years, but if he called an audible than I can only hope Karma comes calling next week against the Saints.
The game is played to win.. to score points and or try to stop your opposition.. all we heard all week is how the Vikings no way matched up against the Cowboys, I think they had to put the nay sayers to bed with that last score and wake up the sleeping Giant! Great game Vikings!!! Bring on the Saints!! Another Great game on the way!!
Anthony, you sound like an idiot!
We pay people like Brett Farve 26 sum million dollars to play a full 60 minutes of football each and every game. Score whenever the opponent allows you. That is what the fans are paying for…action, and it don’t matter when the action takes place. Another point to be made is KUDOS for Farve for ending the game on such a positive and strong note. Has a quarterback ever gotten to a point where he doesn’t need the practice at putting the ball in the endzone? Don’t the receivers get better withe EVERY catch they make?
Good job Brett, Anthony, get off the meth!
Ha!
I think you’re stretching your points a little, Al. The Vikings didn’t score that last touchdown so that Favre and Shiancoe could get one last “practice” rep in. They scored that last touchdown to make a statement and push the Cowboys’ noises in it. As Chef Doug said, Dallas’ defense got a lot of attention throughout the week, so that last score was equivalent to the Vikings and Favre flipping everyone the bird.
It’s fine if you think I sound like an idiot, but let’s not misconstrue what happened yesterday. Favre doesn’t need extra reps – he wanted another score to show up his opponent and to add another TD to his resume.
Al…your doctor called. It’s time to take your medicine or they’re going to have to put you back in that padded room. And no, you can’t take your Brett Favre action figures with you.
It’s amazing to me how many fans don’t know the meaning of the word “objectivity” and how quickly Vikings fans that did know it have erased it from their vocabulary.
Prince and Bud Grant showed up to the game and wanted to see a show! Vikings may finally win the big one!
Anthony, you talk like touchdown passes are easy…like buying a candy bar. You make it sound as if Farve was punishing the Cowboys by doing what he is paid to do? You think any NFL quarterback can throw touchdown passes at will? The Vikes fought to get down to where Farve could make another big and great play. The Cowboys and you need to quit whining and applaud the fact you were outclassed, outmatched and outgunned…right to the last minute of play and I loved it! Send me your address and I will send you a towel to cry on!
T-Bone, I feel bad about the car wreck you got into that made you speak and think jibberish. (Tha’s why the t-bone name, right?)
Perhaps another Super Bowl ring on Brett’s finger will knock some sense into you.
I’ll send you a crying towel as well if it makes you feel better.
The Vikes are FINALLY a team that doesn’t quit and goes for the throat. We in Minnesota have been waiting for this kind of a team for a long time.
Maybe the NFL should make another colored flag…a green one that Dallas could have thrown in in the fourth quarter that means they surreneder, quit, game over?
Al,
If you re-read the fourth paragraph of the article, you’ll see that I agree the Cowboys should have stopped them. I’m not a Cowboy fan or “a Favre “hater” and having an opinion doesn’t make me a whiner. In fact, if you really must know, I was rooting for the Vikings.
The Cowboys obviously weren’t prepared for a pass in that situation – shame on them for not expecting both run and pass. But I’m not going to sound my Brett-Favre-is-a-God horn for throwing a touchdown pass when the defense (which, as you correctly pointed out, had quit) was expecting a run.
Here’s another take that you’ll probably disagree with, but I haven’t heard many people discussing:
http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/01/18/forget-about-running-up-the-
score-%e2%80%93-the-vikings%e2%80%99-decision-was-just-stupid/
BTW, Never get bummed about disagreeing. If we all thought the same about everything, life would get mighty boring…and…debate is healthy.
So, that being said, the Vikes won. The Cowboys lost. Making the playoffs is huge. In that respect there were no losers. It was a sweet victory for Vikings fans. All this nonsense about the Vikings should have run instead of another touchdown pass will all be forgotten someday soon.
How’s the wife and kids?
Al,
Hey, we agree on something – this story has a shelve life of another day or two and then you’re right, it’s going to be a dead issue.
Congrats to your team. I’m a diehard Falcons fan, so I’m jealous I can’t soak up as much playoff content for a week leading up to the championship games like the fans of teams that are still in it.
No wife, no kids – haven’t walked that path yet. Yours?
Mine all left me after I went off my meds….looks like you’re my only and bestest friend now, so please don’t quit talking! Life can be very lonely since I got out! Come to the Overlook and visit!
PS, It’s a long winter here.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
“The Vikes fought to get down to where Farve could make another big and great play.” You’re joking right? Did you even watch the game? They took over on the Cowboys 37 and ran 5 plays for 26 yards before that touchdown. Not exactly “The Drive”.
I know it’s cold up there but something must be happening to make Vikings fans so blind to what’s really going on.
I just want to point out that Favre doesn’t make 26 million a game!
Brett was signed for 26 million for two seasons…so it cost the Viking org 26 mil to acquire him.