Mistakes and those other self injuries.

Today at Fed Ex Field in Landover, Maryland, a Washington, D.C. suburb, the 'Skins, tripping over themselves and the Minnesota Vikings, stumbling, carelessly, fell down hard, with a 17-13 loss. It was another game the 'Skins needed, a game the 'Skins should have won, a game the 'Skins lost.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb said "mistakes" were made, the loss was "self-inflicted," that things went wrong which the 'Skins should have "controlled."

Late in November is no time to be making mistakes. The mistakes included, illegally blocking a Minnesota player who was out of the play. The penalty wiped out a 'Skins' 88-yard kickoff return that would have put the score at 20-17, 'Skins, with just 6:54 remaining in the game.

The 'Skins started well. Quarterback Donovan McNabb went 8 for 8. The 'Skins' first drive ended with a touch down. Then the offense couldn't move the ball. The offense stunk, stunk big time. The team stunk, considering the weak Minnesota record.

The Minnesota Vikings came to town with a nine game losing streak on the road, and having won only three games all season. They had fired their coach this past week. The new guy hadn't had time to get fitted for his head coach hat.. Of course, the Vikings came to town with the 41 year old veteran quarterback Brett Favre, who was able to run against the 'Skins. 41 years old is ancient in NFL years!

Favre came out playing well. His first drive was a scoring drive. He went 3 for 3, when the Vikings first got the ball, and set up a 5 yard run for a touchdown. He went 5 for 5 on the Viking's first drive of the second half. This set up a second five yard touch down run -- and that was about all he needed.

The Vikings have injuries. The 'Skins have injuries. The 'Skins really have injuries. The 'Skins had mistakes and penalties. The Vikings had the ball 24:06 minutes to the 'Skins 14:36, The Vikings took more yards on the ground, 201-108.

Favre ended the game 15 for 23 for 172 yards No interceptions. McNabb game stats were 21 for 35 for 211 yards, one touch down, one interception. The 'Skins are now 5-6 for the season and are going nowhere.

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