BALTIMORE (KRT) — The stage for the auditions couldn’t have been more grand, on Monday Night Football, in the final regular-season game of the 2001 season, against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens at PSINet Stadium.
The entire Minnesota Vikings organization was yearning to end one of the most tumultuous seasons in its existence with a victory, building some momentum into another important offseason. But, alas, in a season riddled with setbacks, it seemed almost fitting the Vikings ended this one with a 19-3 loss to the Ravens, falling to 5-11, their worst finish since going 3-13 in Les Steckel’s lone year as coach in 1984.
For a second consecutive week, though, even in defeat, the Vikings took a step forward, showing resilience against a playoff-bound opponent. The Vikings’ defense stopped six short-yardage attempts inside their own 5-yard line, and they held the Ravens’ offense to four field goals. Bennett put up a solid effort against the NFL’s fourth-rated run defense, earning 52 yards on 13 carries.
Unfortunately, Vikings quarterback Spergon Wynn struggled for a second consecutive week, failing to execute even the most basic passes.
Wynn completed just 13 of 29 passes (44.8 percent) for 86 yards and two interceptions, one of which occurred after a botched punt attempt by Kyle Richardson gave the Vikings the ball 10 yards from Ravens’ end zone. Also, late in the fourth quarter, as he was being sacked, Wynn fumbled and the ball was recovered by Ravens linebacker Jamie Sharper, who ran it into the end zone for his team’s lone touchdown.
Ironically, the Vikings were undone most by former Vikings. Receiver Qadry Ismail converted a third down with a 20-yard catch late in the first quarter; running back Terry Allen had a season-high 133 yards on 23 carries; and running back Moe Williams, released by the Vikings in the final cut-down before this season, had seven carries for 49 yards.
But the Vikings’ defense provided a few flashes of hope.
It contained the Ravens on their first two possessions, enabling Minnesota’s offense to score first. Midway through the first quarter, Vikings fullback Harold Morrow barely converted a third-and-2 play, setting the stage for the Vikings’ most exciting play of the game.
Wide receiver Randy Moss took a reverse handoff from Spergon Wynn, rolled right and then unleashed a pass to Carter for 29 yards.
Then, after a 15-yard catch by Carter, the Vikings were inside the Ravens’ 10. Yet they settled for a 26-yard field goal by Gary Anderson.
The Ravens, however, immediately responded. Ravens kicker Matt Stover tied the game with a 21-yard field goal.
Then, on third and goal from the Vikings’ 2, Elvis Grbac badly overthrew Williams toward the left side of the end zone, with free safety Orlando Thomas covering Williams tightly. An official called pass interference, although the ball appeared uncatchable.
Yet with first and goal from the 1, the Ravens were unable to pound the ball in and had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Stover.
© 2002, Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.). Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.