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McNiff's Riffs: Make next Vikes-Pack matchup double or nothing

Tim McNiff wants to rip a page out of the "Powerball" playbook, and instead of slapping an unsatisfying tie on both the Vikings and Packers, he says to make the rematch on Nov. 25 "double or nothing!"
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2018; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson (7) reacts after missing a game winning field goal as time expires during overtime against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Let’s face it, NOBODY is happy (much less satisfied) with the outcome of Sunday's Vikings-Packers game.

I think I have a solution that both teams and their supporters would agree to.

Let’s have a “carryover.” Rip a page out of the “Powerball” playbook, and instead of slapping an unsatisfying tie on both teams, let’s make the rematch Nov. 25 double or nothing.

As any lotto player knows, anytime nobody wins the jackpot there is a carryover until the next drawing. Judging by what the teams (and their fans) are saying after Sunday’s epic 29-29 overtime tie, it sure sounds like both clubs feel like they let one slip away, an important division matchup that they should have won.

Credit: Jonathan Daniel
Daniel Carlson's misses negated the 4th quarter heroics of Kirk Cousins, who is proving he is worth all of $84 million.

“There were times where we felt that we should have won it," lamented Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins. “There were times the Packers, like, they should have won it, it was a great game and unfortunately we didn’t get the win.”

Sure Kirk, but you didn’t LOSE either, so why doesn’t everybody just put their collective money where their mouth is, forget the tie, and make the rematch winner take all?

Credit: Joe Robbins
The Vikings Daniel Carlson wasn't alone in his kicking misery: Normally trustworthy Packers kicker Mason Crosby also shanked a huge kick that may have cemented a Packer's win.

Packer-Backers are blaming the refs for the outcome, and they have a point... maybe.

On one of his few ill-advised throws of the day, Cousins’ deep ball for Stacey Coley was picked off by Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander with about a minute and a half to go. Ballgame.

Only, it wasn’t.

READ: More McNiff's Riffs

The refs flagged Green Bay Linebacker Clay Matthews for roughing the passer" for his hit on Kirk Cousins. “It’s tough, especially with the interception and the opportunity to close out the game," said Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy. “But that’s all a part of this league. You have calls go your way, you have calls that don’t go your way, but you just have to keep on playing.”

So was it actually a bad call?

That depends. Not just on which team you were rooting for, but also which NFL you're watching. The NFL before Anthony Barr’s season-ending hit on Aaron Rodgers last year, or today’s NFL?

If you’re watching TODAY'S NFL, Matthews' hit on Cousins was almost identical to the hit Eric Kendricks put on Rodgers in the second quarter, a hit that also resulted in a flag for roughing the passer. I mean, it’s referred to as “the Aaron Rodgers rule," for gosh sakes... you can’t have it both ways!

Or, can you?

Credit: Jonathan Daniel
Plenty of fans on both sides of the border battle probably made like Everson Griffen last night and SCREAMED into their pillow.

It was a rough day all around for the guys in stripes. The Vikings' Rashod Hill was flagged for holding on the team’s second play from scrimmage. The Packers' offensive line wasn’t flagged for holding until late in the third quarter (only twice all game) though it appeared Viking defenders were dragging Green Bay offensive linemen along in their pursuit of Rodgers, all afternoon.

“They grab our guys so much on the outside and don’t get called for it," said Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. “If you come in there and they grab around the outside it’s supposed to be called holding but it doesn’t happen a lot of times so, we had to make some adjustments with our rush.”

And then, there was that inexplicable offensive pass interference call on Green Bay’s Davante Adams.

On this day, even the penalties were pretty much a tie. The Vikes were flagged eight times for 70 yards, while the Packers drew seven penalties for 54 yards, including the much talked about hit by Matthews.

I seriously can’t recall a game when fans of both the Vikings and Packers left feeling like their team let a big win get away... yet, at the same time, feeling reluctantly lucky that they didn’t depart with a loss, either.

The Vikings staged a great rally, the Packers thought they had it won in regulation, and then... there’s the saga of Daniel Carlson. That poor kid. What is it about this team and kickers?

If you were a ticket-holder, you sure got your money’s worth... but in another way, you really didn't, with no winner and plenty of regrets.

Which brings us back to the original premise of this edition of McNiff's Riffs: Let's play the rematch at U.S Bank Stadium on Nov. 25 (already slated for primetime TV on Sunday Night Football) double or nothing, winner take all!?”

NBC would love it. Rodger Goodell would love it... the ratings, anyway. Sure, it might cost one of these teams a playoff spot, but it would also give the football faithful some closure.

And there’s no way Carlson could possibly miss again, could he? (I’m betting he won’t If he’s still on the team).

A border battle for all the marbles.. what say you, football fans?

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