Minneapolis, Minnesota At U.S. Bank Stadium, the same series of events occurs after every game, win or lose. After playing, the Minnesota Vikings players file into the locker room for a post-game debrief. Kevin O’Connell, the coach, speaks. Every team member pays attention. The owners of the team then leave before anybody else does, having expressed their support for the team no matter the outcome by passing through a section reserved for media representatives.
Usually, Zygi and Mark Wilf are grinning when the Vikings win. Zygi even blurted out, “How about them apples?!” following the team’s victory over the Buffalo Bills in the previous season.
They move slowly and dejectedly after losing. Their countenances flush. Their heads dangle. They frequently keep their eyes closed.
The normal sequence resumed after the Vikings’ humiliating 33-10 loss to the rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, which took place in front of the home crowd during prime time. Linebacker Jordan Hicks strolled into the tunnel and toward the locker room, crossing the end zone that had been painted purple. O’Connell took the loss on his shoulders after his teammates joined him inside.
He told them, “I wasn’t good enough for us.”
Players and staff members scattered to their lockers and then their cars after a few others had aired their opinions. However, the Wilfs, who had been at the game, did not show up afterwards. Of course, it’s possible that their weekly ritual was disrupted by travel or obligations on New Year’s Eve. At the very least, though, the anomaly is a perfect match for the team’s appalling performance. It
Harrison Phillips, a defensive lineman for the Vikings, said, “It was terrible.” “Yes, it did give me a repulsive feeling.”
The defeat concluded a season without a victory at home against NFC North rivals. Josh Dobbs was flustered by the Chicago Bears. Nick Mullens was exposed by the Detroit Lions. Jaren Hall was dominated by the Packers. With their current record of 7-9, Minnesota practically needs a four-team parlay to make the playoffs.
Given the high stakes on Sunday, the disparity in play raised numerous questions and necessitated a thorough investigation moving forward. Many of the tenets of this team’s culture and combat, which had previously seemed unbreakable, felt abruptly loose.
