The laces were in! Vikings’ missed field goal seals playoff win for Seahawks
Don’t blame Dan Marino.
In a moment that evoked a classic scene from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed a potentially game-winning field-goal attempt against the Seattle Seahawks in their NFC wild-card round playoff game on Sunday. Apparently not heeding the lamentations of Ray Finkle, Vikings holder Jeff Locke had the laces in when Walsh stepped up to kick the football. With the Vikings trailing the Seahawks, 10-9, in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, Walsh then hooked the 27-yard field-goal attempt left .
“I’m telling you, sometimes that can psychologically get a kicker,’’ NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth said of the laces while watching a replay.
Blair Walsh's go-ahead 27-yard FG is WIDE LEFT. Richard Sherman loses it. Michael Bennett loses it. Wow. #SEAvsMIN https://t.co/GfnJlvUbGU
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2016Regardless of the cause for the miss, it sealed a dramatic win for the Seahawks.
Playing in frigid, Isotoner-recommended conditions, Walsh had made three previous field goals in the game, even without optimal lace placement.
Walsh deserves a lot of credit for making those kicks. Those laces have been... less than ideal.
— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) January 10, 2016Remember last two FG's Locke has not turned the laces on either hold. Even on a short kick that can impact the kick
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) January 10, 2016As the Seahawks celebrated the late miss on the field, many commenting on Twitter referenced Finkle and those laces.
THE LACES WERE IN!!! https://t.co/krQzlX2G06
— Stephen Amell (@amellywood) January 10, 2016Finkle is Walsh....Walsh is Finkle. #MINvsSEA
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 10, 2016Blair Walsh misses from 29 yards. Ray Finkle missed from 26 #TheKickHeardRoundTheWorld
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 10, 2016Laces out. #SEAvsMIN pic.twitter.com/2LQH971nAH
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 10, 2016Laces out Ray Finkle pic.twitter.com/dQvjR9cwAN
— Lights Out (@shawnemerriman) January 10, 2016Somewhere Ray Finkle is screaming... LACES OUT!!!
— Jon Leuer (@JLeu30) January 10, 2016Definitely needs to go to Ray Finkle Football camp. Laces out. pic.twitter.com/rGhr3bUYDN
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) January 10, 2016
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