As you would expect any head coach to do, Leslie Frazier defended calling timeouts on Washington's last drive:

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000...gs-players

 

The part about making sure his defense was tired sounds like what a lame duck coach would say.

 

In Leslie Frazier's defense,  the Vikings only had 6 Defensive Lineman available for the game.   In addition,  because of injuries,  the Vikings were missing most of the Secondary that started the season.   

 

This is one of those situations I understand and respect both viewpoints  ( whether to use the Defensive timeouts or not. ).

 

IMO,  the first timeout the Vikings used was a decision I agreed with.    The Redskins were around the Vikings 25 yard line with around 1:20 remaining in the game.   At that point,  it was more important for the Vikings Defense to be fresh and making sure everyone knew their assignments.

 

On the other hand,  I disagreed with the 2nd timeout.   There was around 38 seconds left.   The Redskins had the ball around the Vikings 8 yard line and a 1st Down.  At that point,  the clock was much more of a significant factor.

 

As it turned out,   the Vikings got a huge break on the 2nd Down play that followed.  It looked like TE Jordan Reed was held near the goalline by LB Erin Henderson.   However,  a Defensive Holding Penalty or Pass Interference Penalty wasn't called.    If the Penalty was called,   the 2nd timeout that Frazier called could have easily cost the Vikings the game.   

---

The Redskins missed two key games -- against the Vikings and the Lions when their WR dropped the long TD pass -- that really could change their season around. 

---

The Redskins missed two key games -- against the Vikings and the Lions when their WR dropped the long TD pass -- that really could change their season around. 

 

 WR Aldrick Robinson got behind Rashean Mathis but the former Jaguar went along way in causing the pass to eventually be ruled incomplete.    

 

 Even if Robinson would have scored a TD on the play,   there was still plenty of time for the Lions to have comeback to win the game.   We will never know what would have happened.

---

I feel like the Redskins are the better team capable of beating far more teams than the Vikings are capable of, but the match-up disparity between the Redskins run D and AP was just too great to overcome.

---

'02

I feel like the Redskins are the better team capable of beating far more teams than the Vikings are capable of, but the match-up disparity between the Redskins run D and AP was just too great to overcome.

 

Did you watch the game? Alfred Morris gained a lot more yards than Adrian Peterson! I had never seen any team stop #28 as well as Washington did Thursday night.

---

Did you watch the game? Alfred Morris gained a lot more yards than Adrian Peterson! I had never seen any team stop #28 as well as Washington did Thursday night.

 

 

It's more the threat of AP. Selling out to stop the RB created all kinds of holes elsewhere.

---

'02