Vikings Shock the World, Especially Minnesota

Don't know the first thing about football but enjoyed this story from the WSJ's Jason Gay:

Did you see it? Did you see the Minnesota Vikings win that playoff game on that zany last-second pass?

Did you scream?

I screamed. I screamed so loud, the neighbor’s dog started barking. The neighbor’s dog has been dead since 1988.

It was absurd, outrageous, beautiful — whatever you want to call it. Of course, if you’re a Saints fan, I imagine you’re still hiding underneath the couch. Let me know if you find my remote.

How do the Minnesota Vikings not feel like the NFL’s team of destiny? They now have a chance to play a Super Bowl at home, in their fancy new ice fishing shed in Minneapolis. No team has ever gotten to do that. After Sunday’s dramatic victory—and make no mistake, that heave from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs is an all-time, top-of-your-lungs, call-the-police, run-down-the-street-in-your-undies sports shocker—the Vikings have to believe they can win a home Super Bowl. And the NBA championship. And the Masters. And a Nobel. And a Top Chef.

It’s especially crazy because this is not what the Vikings do. What happened Sunday—that’s what other teams are supposed to do to the Vikings. Minnesota is one of the most tormented franchises in sports. All sports. They’ve been to four Super Bowls, and never won one. They’ve lost so many inexplicable heartbreakers, you could easily do an Inexplicable Heartbreaker Top 10. The term ‘Hail Mary’ was coined after a play that beat the Vikings.

That’s right: every time a football team gets its soul crushed on a last-second long pass, Minnesota gets a royalty.

(snip)

If you have friends and co-workers from Minnesota, don’t expect much of them this week. They’re happy, distracted and out of their minds.

(snip)

Losing Wentz really put the kibosh on America’s Eagles enthusiasm. There was wide expectation from Football Smart People that the streaking Atlanta Falcons were going to swoop into Philly on Saturday and easily handle the Eagles and their back-up quarterback, Nick Foles.

Didn’t happen. This is why Football Smart People are often Football Moron People. Atlanta had its chances, but Philadelphia has one of football’s best defenses. The Eagles won a 15-10 slog, and now get the Vikes.

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/vikings-shock-the-world-especially-minnesota-1516031794