Yesterday, the Saints had the late lead against the Vikings. Winner goes to the NFC championship. With time ticking away the Vikings pretty much needed a miracle to win the game against the visiting Saints. With only 10 seconds on the clock they needed a quick pass to the sidelines to get into field goal range. The problem was they needed a catch and to have the receiver step out of bounds with time on the clock to kick the field goal. Another problem… they needed to get into field goal range. The Vikings needed another 20 yards or a bit more to really have a shot at a field goal in their kicker’s range.   With no time outs remaining the Saints had to defend the sidelines. All’s the Saints had to do was defend the pass. In these situations you would want the line men to blow up the quarterback. If that line of defenses broke down and the quarterback does get the ball off, you want to keep the guy in bounds if he catches the ball. Sure you want an incomplete pass or even an interception. But the big thing for the Saints was keep the guy in bounds so time runs out.

When you’re younger in grammar school football, you are taught to use your arms and wrap up the person at his waist and legs.  Stop the movement in their legs and drive them to the ground. It’s simple tackling 101. They even recommend this style of tackling in  each level football that is played. Even the NFL. However players launch themselves like missiles to try to get the big hit. Try to dislodge the football out of the player’s hands. Some try to make the highlight reels. Players continue to do this style of tackling knowing they can hurt themselves or even the other player. This style of missile tackling leads to many of the helmet to helmet plays that send players out of the game with concussions. Some players take on so many hits to their heads they regret the side effects later in life.

Yesterday Stefon Diggs caught the ball in bounds in between two defenders. Time was ticking fast. Then Marcus Williams whiffed on the tackle. It was like strike three in baseball when the player is swinging with all his might at the ball to hit a home run. Does not even make any contact. Maybe when they only need a single to win the game. In basketball, a game winning shot could be an easy lay up. But the player decides to slam dunk it and it bounces off into the stands. Marcus Williams is only 21 years old. He is probably a good kid. He has had an awesome season with 4 interceptions and 7 pass break ups. He is only a rookie. He even manned up and talked to reporters after the game and answered the tough question. Marcus Williams launched himself like an Iraq scud missile and misses Stefon Diggs, but wipes out his own teammate, the other defender. Diggs catches the ball in bounds untouched and he has nothing but green in front of him. He turns around and takes it to the house for a Viking walk off win.

A simple tackle.The way you were taught – wrap up his waist and legs and wrestle him down cost your team a chance to go to the NFC championship game. To play a team without their star quarterback. This single mishap cost the Saints probably a trip back to the Superbowl. Plus could it of been Brees last chance to get to the big game? He is getting older. Can he repeat this year’s performance another year in the league? Now look at what you are left with as quarterbacks in the championship games next week. Bortles, Keenum, Foles, and the best in the league, in Brady. Now the script looks like it will be another planet conquered by the Evil Empire. Sloppy tackling like this is ruining the game. People getting hurt. Plus it seems like nothing in the league except turnstyle defenses.