Minnesota Can’t Allow Packers Fans To Nullify Home-Field Advantage Again
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
New Year’s Eve is the very last holiday of the calendar year. Not only is it a time to celebrate the impending arrival of the New Year, but it’s also the perfect time to reflect on the past year and create resolutions in an effort towards self-improvement. While most people usually spend New Year’s partying or watching the ball drop at Times Square, I spent last New Year’s Eve at U.S. Bank Stadium watching the Minnesota Vikings host the Green Bay Packers.
Everything about this matchup had the makings of a big game. Two fierce division rivals who both shared the same record at 7-8 were set to face off against each other in an elimination game. And here was the Spoonbridge and Cherry on top: This game aired on Sunday Night Football for the entire country to witness. Although this wasn’t a playoff game, it most certainly felt like one.
There was just one problem. The Vikings were stuck on a quarterback carousel and Kevin O’Connell was at his wit’s end. Nick Mullens and Josh Dobbs were unable to find sustained success, leaving Minnesota’s coaching staff with only one other alternative: start fifth-round quarterback Jaren Hall, and hope for the best. Unsurprisingly, Hall played like a rookie who was still learning how to read NFL defenses and was benched for Mullens at halftime. Vikings fans in attendance went quiet, and Packers fans completed their hostile takeover of U.S. Bank Stadium. The fanbase can’t let that happen again.
Just an all around embarrassing first half from the Minnesota Vikings
Neither side of the ball getting it done and Packers fans are taking over US Bank Satdium #skol pic.twitter.com/oCPxgiAkbU
— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) January 1, 2024
A similar occurrence happened two weeks ago at Lumen Field when the Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle was set to host Green Bay in a must-win game for the Seahawks, who only had a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. It’s also worth noting that the Seahawks and Packers have been conference rivals ever since Brandon Bostick failed to recover the onside kick in the 2014 NFC Championship Game. Since that game, the Packers have gone 6-1 against the Seattle Seahawks, including a 28-23 win over Seattle in the 2019 playoffs.
Lotta Packers fans in Seattle
Collinsworth says they may have to go silent count at home https://t.co/DDDh8olQT0 pic.twitter.com/WxJmFrtJiP
— Hogg (@HoggNFL) December 16, 2024
With stakes that high for a team and a fanbase that has a strong animosity towards the Packers, you’d think “The 12th Man” would make life a living hell for Packer fans who made the pilgrimage to the Pacific Northwest. Lumen Field is one of the most hostile environments for visiting teams to play at, so surely the Seahawks fanbase would make the presence known, right? Wrong, because as it turns out, The 12th Man was actually wearing green and gold with blocks of cheddar cheese on their heads.
You gotta give credit to Packers fans for being a loyal bunch, but I presume it’ll be a lot harder for them to nullify the Vikings’ home-field advantage this time around. For starters, Kevin O’Connell won’t have to trot out Hall in a must-win game, so that certainly helps. The lack of quality quarterback play last season and the blowout nature of that lopsided affair is what led to an unenthusiastic showing from Vikings fans, who were completely dejected with the score at 23-3 at halftime.
ANOTHER UNREAL SAM DARNOLD PLAY ‼️
HE FINDS JUSTIN JEFFERSON FOR THE 39-YARD TD TO GIVE MINNESOTA THE LATE LEAD 👏
(via @Vikings) pic.twitter.com/df2NTGs6XO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 22, 2024
The difference between 2023 and 2024 is night and day. Sam Darnold has been incredible for Minnesota, throwing 32 touchdown passes and nearing 4,000 passing yards. Darnold made arguably his gutsiest throw of the year last week against the Seahawks. Minnesota was down four points with 3:58 left in the fourth quarter when Darnold, on a bum ankle, stepped up into the pocket and launched the football to a double-teamed Justin Jefferson before taking a big hit from Dre’Mont Jones. That spectacular touchdown throw helped the Vikings secure their first win at Lumen Field since 2006.
I attended Minnesota vs Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium last year. While I enjoyed watching the game with my dad and meeting @_jason_777, I must admit that our "homefield advantage" was non-existent.
PSA to all #Vikings fans: DON'T SELL YOUR TICKETS, GET LOUD, AND STAY LOUD!!! https://t.co/ymCKcyL4wY pic.twitter.com/2J6nAVv69x
— 𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙧 (@TylerTalksBall) December 23, 2024
It’s safe to say that the Vikings are in a much better position heading into their Week 17 matchup against the Packers this time around. What’s less certain is whether or not Vikings fans will once again be upstaged by their cheese-wearing, stock-holding Easterly neighbors. Minnesotans must do their part by showing up, getting loud, staying loud, and making U.S. Bank Stadium the home-field advantage it has been time and time again. That’ll make it easier for the Vikings to complete their sweep of the Packers entering the New Year.
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