(My Sportsbook) - Whether Vikings coach Mike Tice meant it or just called himself "Coach Collapse" in jest last week, it didn't matter. The reality of the situation is that he was speaking the brutal truth about his efforts over the last few years in Minnesota.

Obviously, it isn't all Tice's fault, as he is dealing with a defense that doesn't tackle properly and a team that can't make a big play when it matters. However, the manner in which a team performs reflects on a coach and the staff surrounding him so Tice hit the nail on the head when he saddled himself with the epithet.

Minnesota completed its second consecutive stretch run collapse on Sunday, falling 21-18 to substantial underdog Washington at FedEx Field. The Vikings lost for the seventh time in their final 10 games, one year after blowing a playoff shot with a nearly identical feat. This time, however, Minnesota lucked out and backed its way into the postseason in the weak NFC. Thanks to New Orleans' win at Carolina, Minnesota slipped into the playoffs at 8-8.

"We're not going to go and do cartwheels and do something stupid like open up a bottle of champagne," Tice said of his team's method of entering the postseason. "But we still got in. Only six teams got in. We did that by having a better record than the other 10."

Minnesota, which spent most of its offseason trying to improve its defense, looked strikingly similar to last season in its finale. Without top back Clinton Portis, Washington simply turned to Ladell Betts and he trampled his way to 118 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries (4.5 ypc).

While the defense did little to thwart the Redskins, it was actually the offense which let Tice down in the contest. Daunte Culpepper did complete 27- of-44 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but the running game was a no- show. Minnesota managed just 52 yards on 18 rushing attempts (2.9 ypc) against the stiff Washington front seven.

"This team is going to drive me crazy," Tice said. "You spend the whole week trying to get them to understand you don't want to get yourself too worked up, and you don't want to get yourself too uptight, and you don't want to go out and play like you can't make a mistake. ... And then, a bunch of times we played like that today [Sunday]."

Randy Moss led the Vikings with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, while Jermaine Wiggins reeled in seven balls for 58 yards. After a late Marcus Robinson touchdown reception put Minnesota behind by only three points with two seconds remaining, Moss decided to leave the sidelines early in the frustration of another loss.

"Really," Culpepper said, "I don't like what he did. I didn't know about it at the time, because I was on the field. But I know I'm going to address it with him, for sure. I definitely don't like it.

"Randy is Randy. He does his thing. He knows what he was doing. He's a grown man. But it's all about winning championships, and is that helping us move toward a championship? That's a question he has to ask himself."

The Vikings have little time to settle their issues with Moss because they have to turn around and face the arch-rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Minnesota has suffered a pair of 34-31 defeats to the Packers this year, losing both games on game-ending field goals.

"It's totally sweet," Vikings owner Red McCombs told the Minnesota Star Tribune. "You play all year to get here. Now we're here. I'm so excited about it. Everything we want is out there for us, plain as day. Now all we have to do is get it."

INJURY REPORT -- Right tackle Mike Rosenthal (right foot), tight end Jim Kleinsasser (right knee) and cornerback Ken Irvin (right Achilles' tendon) are out for the season.

UP NEXT -- The Vikings open the postseason in Green Bay on Sunday.