Blair Walsh was the sports world's loneliest man on Sunday afternoon.
The Minnesota Vikings kicker missed a last-second field goal that would have beaten the Seattle Seahawks and delivered victory to more than 52,000 home fans who endured historic cold. Instead, Walsh lost the game for Minnesota, ended the Vikings' season and melted the NFL Internet.
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Walsh didn't miss some desperation prayer, either. It was a 27-yard attempt; NFL kickers had converted those with 99 percent accuracy so far this season before his nightmare began.
We'll break down the reaction in a second -- but first, here's a look at Walsh's ignominious moment.
Blair Walsh misses the 27 yard field goal WOW. pic.twitter.com/aIvvSNT8XO— MarcusD (@_MarcusD_) January 10, 2016
That's a moment of infamy that will live forever to inflict painful memories upon the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette wasted no time rubbing Seattle's win in the faces of Walsh, the Vikings and Minnesota fans. Almost immediately after the game, Lockette posted this Steve Harvey meme, riffing off the comedian's erroneous turn hosting the Miss Universe pageant recently.
A photo posted by Ricardo Lockette (@ricardolockette) on Jan 10, 2016 at 1:42pm PST
Cold-blooded. But not as cold-blooded as the fans who used Twitter to wish death upon Walsh.
Around the rest of the NFL world, other players were less cruel than Lockette -- but no less surprised.
Former MVP Kurt Warner expressed sympathy for the entire team.
Sick to my stomach (literally) for the Vikings!!!— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 10, 2016
Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White singled Walsh out for compassion.
Dayum I feel bad for Blair Walsh— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) January 10, 2016
Former quarterback Sage Rosenfels shared a detail that has an unfortunate and high probability of going ignored by many.
Not that most NFL fans care, but Blair Walsh is one of the nicest and most well liked people in the Vikings locker room. #HesHuman— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) January 10, 2016
And -- of course, of course, of course -- Walsh's miss provided some grade-A meme-fodder.
Here we have a spin-off the popular Netflix series Making a Murderer.
Newest Netflix Documentary on Vikings kicker Blair Walsh. pic.twitter.com/erszzBo1Hn— Dan Worthington (@danWorthington) January 10, 2016
Here we have mockery of both Walsh and the Vikings fans who sat through record-setting cold for a heartbreaking loss.
When you sat outside in sub-zero temps for three hours to see Blair Walsh miss a chip shot FG to win the game. pic.twitter.com/PtzMl4Wl7R— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) January 10, 2016
And you know crying Michael Jordan had to make several appearances.
pic.twitter.com/jq6k5yPyqO— DRΣШ (@yalljust_myfans) January 10, 2016
You guys are the best. You really are pic.twitter.com/m0L01vyfCS— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) January 10, 2016
pic.twitter.com/DJkCSdbaAr— Shane Murray (@_ShaneMurray11) January 10, 2016
But wait! Walsh isn't entirely the goat of this loss. Vikings holder Jeff Locke failed to turn the laces of the ball out after it was snapped and before Walsh attempted his field goal -- as is the optimal technique to enhance a kickers' accuracy.
This, of course, also mirrors the classic "laces out, Dan" joke that is a central premise of the comedy classic Ace Ventura. The quirky detail spawned some particularly unique and original jokes on Twitter.
LACES. OUT. pic.twitter.com/xMDCXU7Wfr— 120 Sports (@120Sports) January 10, 2016
LACES OUT BREHHHHHH— Greg Howard (@greghoward88) January 10, 2016
Laces out. #SEAvsMIN pic.twitter.com/2LQH971nAH— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 10, 2016
I could of sworn I've seen a movie about this growing up lol you gotta keep those laces out #AceVentura— Sean Smith (@SeanSMITH24) January 10, 2016
Laces in or laces out, though, there's no good excuse for missing a kick your peers have made with 99 percent accuracy all season long. When the crying Michael Jordan meme tolls for thee, you know you've really screwed up -- as Blair Walsh learned the hard way on Sunday afternoon.
BONUS: 25 of YouTube's Funniest Sports Fails
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