By Chip Scoggins
McClatchy News Services
TAMPA, Fla. — Vikings coach Brad Childress did not have a problem with the play call or the execution on a fourth-down attempt in the third quarter of a 19-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
But Childress was plenty mad that a pass interference penalty wasn’t called on Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks at the end of it.
With the scored tied at 13, the Vikings went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 49-yard line with 5:58 left in the third quarter. Running back Adrian Peterson could not hold on to Gus Frerotte’s pass, but replays showed Brooks grabbing Peterson’s arm before the ball arrived.
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"I’m just disappointed that you get one of those fourth-and-1s when you’re not running, you’re going for it and you’re taking a shot," Childress said. "You get that play one time a year. One time a year. And I just don’t feel like [the officials] looked at it correctly. Obviously, that could have been a big play in the game."
The call seemed a little risky considering the time, score and situation. But Childress said he wanted to have an aggressive mindset.
"Players appreciate aggressiveness," he said. "They don’t want to be mild. Do I acquiesce every time it’s fourth down? That was my call; falls on my responsibility. We didn’t convert that call."
The play seemed doomed almost from the start, when Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber burst through the line and looked as if he had a sure sack. But Frerotte ducked, which caused Barber to miss and preserved the play.
"He had a bead on me," Frerotte said. "I knew I didn’t have much time. I had to stand up and make a throw."
Peterson got open on a wheel route out of the backfield. Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud was responsible for Peterson, but said he lost track of him when he thought Barber had the sack. Brooks, a 14-year veteran, wisely picked up Peterson.
