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Monday, December 03, 2001

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

One step forward.

Three steps back.

That was the summary of the Minnesota Vikings' final, frustrating drive in their 21-16 loss to the Steelers yesterday at Heinz Field. And it just as neatly symbolized their woeful, wayward season.

	Backup quarterback Todd Bouman sparked the Vikings' offense in the fourth quarter, but he couldn't finish off the pivotal drive. (Jasmine Gehris, Post-Gazette)

"It's tough," quarterback Todd Bouman said. "We certainly had our chance there at the end."

Several, as it turned out.

Down by five with 2:13 left, after forcing a fumble by quarterback Kordell Stewart deep in Steelers territory, the Vikings had first-and-goal at the 10.

It was Christmas morning, and all the Vikings had to do was unwrap their gift.

The first play showed promise, a 5-yard pass from Bouman to Randy Moss, who finally had resumed his role as the NFL's best wide receiver in the fourth quarter.

"We liked our chances when we got down there," center Matt Birk said. "We felt good."

Not for long.

Second play was nullified by an offensive pass interference call against wide receiver Cris Carter, who shoved cornerback Chad Scott in the end zone. The penalty was 10 yards, pushing Minnesota back for second-and-goal at the 15.

Next came a Bouman pass to running back Doug Chapman at the left side, a throwback screen that looked like it had plenty of potential until Steelers safety Myron Bell read it and slammed Chapman to the ground for a 4-yard loss. That made it third-and-goal at the 19 at the two-minute warning.

Bouman set up in the shotgun for the next snap but, even with that extra cushion, had to abandon the pocket almost instantly because of the Steelers' rush. He sprinted forward, rolled right, spotted Carter alone in the center of the end zone and nailed him with a perfect throw.

All of which would have been cause for wild celebration on the Minnesota sideline had Bouman not roamed 4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage to throw the ball.

"At that point, I didn't know I was past it," Bouman said. "I was just making a play off instinct. I didn't think I was going to make it to the end zone by running, so I just let it go when I saw Cris come open. Obviously, I was over the line."

He was credited with a 4-yard gain but penalized 5 yards for an illegal forward pass. Now, it was fourth-and-goal from the 20.

Coach Dennis Green thought briefly about kicking a field goal to cut the Steelers' lead to two before deciding to go for the end zone.

"If we'd been outside the two-minute mark, we probably would have. I just felt we didn't have enough time. We have the ability to strike a long-distance play with Cris and Randy, so that's what I did."

It's what he tried, anyway.

Again, Bouman started shotgun. And again, the Steelers came hard.

"They brought a lot of people there, and we didn't have enough guys to pick up the blitz," Bouman said. "So I just put the ball up and let Randy try to make the play."

His high toss sailed toward the left corner of the end zone, where cornerback Dewayne Washington faced Moss as Moss faced the ball. The pass struck Washington in the back, and the game's outcome no longer was in dispute.

The same, in all likelihood, can be said for the Vikings' season.

In their past six games, they have won one and lost two, won another and lost two more. That leaves them at 4-7, five games behind the Chicago Bears, the first-place team in the NFC Central Division, and represents the worst start of Green's 10-year tenure.

That realization all but dissolved whatever good feeling might have been generated by roaring back from a 21-3 deficit to nearly winning.

"We are very disappointed in our record being what it is," Green said. "It's something we've never had before."

Someone asked Carter if he was impressed that the Vikings never quit, even when down 18.

"You're supposed to play hard," he said, shaking his head. "There's not a whole lot of consolation in that. No one gives you credit for playing hard in a tough game. We wanted to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. You get satisfaction from winning, not from being 4-7."