A Stress-Free Vikings Game on Christmas
Dustin Baker
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In a sour turn of events, the Minnesota Vikings Week 16 game in New Orleans is a bragging-rights affair, for the most part. The Vikings dropped games to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears in Week 14 and 15, thus rendering the Saints meeting mostly irrelevant. Minnesota maintains a 2% chance to reach the postseason. One would have better odds drawing a Red King from a deck of playing cards on the first flip. It’s “possible, not probable” territory.
The franchise will play for pride of Christmas day with a side dish of the lottery-like probability of continuing a wildcard push. On the Yuletide tryst, this will be the first time that Kirk Cousins has played football on Christmas day in his nine-year career. Depending on bias, he is either undefeated on Christmas or winless on Jesus’ birthday. The Vikings have not played on Christmas since 2005 – a 30-23 loss to Kyle Boller’s Baltimore Ravens. It was the second-to-last game of the Mike Tice era. It was also the final game that Michael Bennett, Lance Johnstone, and Koren Robinson would play as members of the Vikings. Sam Cowart recorded the final sack of his career on that date.
The last time Minnesota won a Christmas day game was 31 years ago with a victory over the Boomer Esiason-led Cincinnati Bengals. Wade Wilson was marvelous that night.
As for New Orleans, the Saints have never played on Christmas day. Tradition-starting is on the docket for Sean Payton’s group this Friday.
Back to present day, the Saints have a lot on the line. They have lost two straight games and will vehemently hope to avoid the trifecta. New Orleans has not lost three consecutive games in a season since early 2016. And, the Vikings will desperately cling to hope that the 2% pipe dream materializes.
Well, Almost Stress-Free
Indeed, Vikings loyalists need not hoot and holler during thisgame. They probably still will perpetrate such antics because of an undying fervor for the team. But the stakes are not very high. The Vikings need five standalone events to effectuate for entry into the postseason.
Foremost, Minnesota must [of course] upset the Saints in the Superdome – a team hellbent on Viking vengeance for two embarrassing playoff follies in the last four years. Then, the Vikings have to topple the Lions in Detroit nine days later. These scenarios are doable, but then more “help” is a necessity.
The Arizona Cardinals – who have everything on the line – must lose games to the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams to close out 2020. The 49ers are down to their third-string quarterback, C.J. Beathard, and even signed the wayward Josh Rosen as an emergency option. Also, the Rams just lost to the Jets. They ruined The Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes for New York City. Los Angeles can no longer be pegged as infallible, fearsome bunch. Losing to the Jets ruins credibility.
Lastly, the Chicago Bears need to lose a game to Jacksonville Jaguars or Green Bay Packers. That is more feasible than the Cardinals criteria. But assembled, these five items that must look favorably upon Minnesota are mathematically unlikely – to the tune of 2%.
2016 Loss to GB the Last Consolation Game
It has been four years since the Vikings encountered a “meaningless” Week 16 gig such as this. The year was 2016, and the Vikings traveled to Green Bay. The week before, Sam Bradford and Co. were thumped by the Indianapolis Colts in one of the most inept showings of the Zimmer era. To date, it was a top-three humiliating moment for the purple and gold at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Against the Packers in 2016, Adam Thielen masterminded a gigantesque performance. He caught 12 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. It was considered a breakout party for the Minnesota State alumnus although the game was never truly in reach.
The Packers were disemboweled one month later by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship.
Week 16 in 2017 and Beyond
Since the “Thielen Game,” the Vikings Week 16 games have been consequential. In 2017, Minnesota recorded its final shutout to date over an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team on Christmas Eve-Eve at Lambeau Field. The game was vital as the Vikings were jostling for a first-round bye. They got it.
Two years ago, Zimmer’s team was up against a wall as they ventured to Detroit for a Week 16 showdown. The Vikings needed a win to keep playoff hopes alive. The mission was accomplished. It was the game that Cousins delivered an end-of-half Hail Mary to Kyle Rudolph as halftime approached. Minnesota won the game 27-9 but lost to the Bears the next week, ending Cousins’ maiden-voyage campaign in Minnesota.
In 2019, the outcome was torturous. Once again, the tension was palpable for a Week 16 game. The NFC North crown was on the line as the Vikings hosted the Packers in Minneapolis on Monday Night Football. Minnesota scooted to a 10-3 lead versus their primary foe – and then stopped scoring points altogether. The Vikings still reached the playoffs and ultimately stunned the Saints two weeks later in a wildcard playoff game. But an opportunity to host a postseason game was squandered.