2004 RetroSkins Highlights: Minnesota Vikings vs Washington Redskins

In the 2004 season finale, one team was playing for pride, the other for a playoff birth. You wouldn't be faulted for getting them confused while watching this game. The Redskins smothering defense was (for once) paired with fairly efficient offense, while the Vikings stumbled through most of this one getting nipped by untimely penalties and rundown by the Redskins punishing rushing attack. Patrick Ramsey appeared to be firming up his status as the starting QB of the future (nope) while Ladell Betts made the most of a rare start (Clinton Portis out injured) and Sean Taylor (sigh...) dished out the hurt on defense. A cosmetic last-second Vikings TD made the score look close, but this day belonged to Joe Gibbs' Redskins from start to finish, as Gibbs improved to 8-0 against Minnesota in the first-ever meeting between these teams at FedEx Field.

In the end, it was a happy ending for everyone. Despite the loss, the Vikes did manage to back into the playoffs and, despite losing 7 of their previous 10 games and 20 of their prior 22 contests outside, Minnesota staged an upset win over Green Bay at Lambeau Field in the wild card round the following week.

HQ captured from a beautiful DVR (remember those?) to VHS (and those?) recording with Bill Maas and Sam Rosen on the call from a chilly FedEx Field.