With one game separating them from becoming the first team in league history to play in a Super Bowl in their own stadium, the Minnesota Vikings entered Philadelphia as favorites.
They departed battered, bruised and deflated.
Several players suffered injuries to their bodies — Andrew Sendejo, Pat Elflein, Anthony Barr — but the Vikings, as a collective unit, left with a damaged spirit, having lost the franchise’s sixth straight conference championship game in a season where they won 13 games and captured the imagination of a state that believed its fortune had changed.
A close loss on Sunday would not have come as a shock to the masses. Philadelphia, being a notoriously tough place to play, had not been kind to the Vikings in Minnesota’s most recent visit in 2016, their defense was nothing to scoff at with underrated talent at each level and their offense was well-run under the guidance of head coach Doug Pederson.
But the nature of Minnesota’s defeat was the stunner.
“It didn’t seem like we brought a whole lot of energy, and they wanted it more,” said cornerback Terence Newman.
The normally-gritty Vikings came unglued in the first half after a pair of turnovers, and by the end of the game they started losing their cool as Philadelphia players and fans needled them with an imitation of their popular Skol Chant.
“Everything they did tonight gave us trouble.”
Mike Zimmer’s No. 1-ranked defense made Nick Foles look like an All-Pro as he beat them short, intermediate and long, totaling 352 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the biggest offensive game against the Vikings all season in terms of points allowed, total yards, passing yards and third-down conversions, and it happened on the biggest stage.
“Everything they did tonight gave us trouble,” said Newman. “Let’s just be honest. They had some runs, they had some throws. Everything they did gave us fits. They put up 400-some yards, so I’m not going to sit here and tell you like it was this and it was that. They did everything. We didn’t play well. They played well.”
Newman, 39, has never played in a Super Bowl. If Sunday’s dud was his final game, it will be an uncharacteristic way for the 15-year veteran to go out.
Just as it was an uncharacteristic way for the Vikings to bow out of the playoffs.
Minnesota hadn’t faced a deficit of more than 11 points since Week 2, yet they found themselves trailing by 14 late in the first half against an Eagles offense that had sputtered the last three games at home.
The Vikings secondary had been the team’s rock all season, but it abandoned them against the unexpectedly high-flying Eagles. Trae Waynes, who gave up Philadelphia’s final touchdown, and Harrison Smith, who was late on both of Foles’ deep touchdown passes, had arguably their worst games of the season as the overlooked Eagles passer strung together over 10 yards per attempt.
“They made all the plays, and we didn’t,” said Brian Robison. “It’s as simple as that.”
Robison is now 2-5 in the playoffs, 0-2 against the Eagles and 0-2 in NFC Championship Games. He, like many, won’t recover quickly. The 34-year-old defensive end might have taken the loss the hardest, sitting forlornly at his locker, in uniform, with his head hung.
His persistent reminder to teammates throughout the week was that great opportunities shouldn’t be taken for granted. Robison knows well, having waited eight years between conference title games, and now he faces an uncertain future.
“We just lost, and that’s fresh.”
Stefon Diggs, a hero in last week’s divisional round game, is still young with a bright future ahead, but he’s tasted two bitter playoff exits in his three seasons.
“We just lost, and that’s fresh,” said Diggs after saying he’s not ready to sugar coat anything. “That [expletive] just happened like 20 minutes ago. I take that on the chin like a man.”
Diggs was one of several Vikings who lost their cool in the fourth quarter. Tempers flared as the game got out of hand. Anthony Barr hit Brent Celek during a shoving match following the Eagles’ last extra point. Diggs got caught jarring with a group of Eagles in front of the Philadelphia sideline. Even special teams coordinator Mike Priefer appeared to take exception to the Eagles’ mock Skol Chant as he was seen from the press box shouting at a Philadelphia special teamer.
Zimmer was calm but terse after the game, willing to take the blame for the second-most lopsided loss of his four-year tenure.
“I could’ve called a lot better game, obviously,” said Zimmer. “Point the finger at me before you point it at the players.”
The last Vikings team to lose at this juncture melted down the following year and ended up firing then-coach Brad Childress.
If there’s any silver lining, it’s that these Vikings are likely built more sustainably with a mostly-young core and a well-respected coach.
But there’s no predicting the future in the NFL. Neither of the last two NFC Championship Game losers made the playoffs the next season.
The regrouping process won’t be pleasant after Sunday’s shellacking, but the NFL offseason is long and provides ample time for healing both physical and mental wounds.
“This loss is not going to determine this team’s success,” said tight end Kyle Rudolph, “this year nor in the future.”
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