DETROIT — With a crucial game on the line at Ford Field, the Vikings went all in ahead of their matchup with the Lions. To bring a piece of Minnesota to Detroit, the Vikings spent nearly $2 million on the secondary ticket market, purchasing around 1,900 tickets and offering them at a discount to season-ticket holders.
This investment allowed the Vikings to gather a noticeable group of purple and gold supporters behind the visitors’ bench, fulfilling the goal set by ownership. Executive vice president Jeff Anderson explained, “Given the importance of this game, we wanted to give our stakeholders—staff, family, season ticket holders, and team partners—an opportunity to attend.”
The Lions, upon learning of the Vikings’ strategy, contacted the league office, but no action was taken since the Vikings had not broken any rules. The move wasn’t surprising, considering the Vikings were fighting for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win over Detroit.
Coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged the challenge ahead: “We know exactly what we’re signing up for. We know they’re a damn good team, and we’re going to have to play really well to win.”
O’Connell’s Future
Though it seems unlikely, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that several teams may explore trading for O’Connell this offseason. However, Glazer later walked back his comments, acknowledging the Vikings would likely never let him go. As the favorite for NFL Coach of the Year, O’Connell has led the Vikings to two playoff appearances in his tenure. Expect a contract extension for him in the near future, as the team has no intention of parting ways with him.
NFC Playoff Picture
As the Vikings and Lions prepared for their primetime showdown, the rest of the NFC playoff picture began to take shape. Next week, the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2 seed) will host the Green Bay Packers (No. 7 seed), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 3 seed) will face the Washington Commanders (No. 6 seed), and the Los Angeles Rams (No. 4 seed) will host either the Vikings or the Lions. The winner of Sunday’s game will secure the No. 1 seed, while the loser will drop to the No. 5 seed.
Briefly
The Vikings’ inactives for the game included edge rusher Pat Jones II, cornerback Fabian Moreau, defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, center Dan Feeney, right tackle Walter Rouse, linebacker Calvin Munson, and quarterback Brett Rypien.
Leave a Reply