Larry W Smith/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (Kendricks), Ken Blaze-USA Today Sports(Kitchens), Keith Srakocic/AP/Shutterstock(Fitzpatrick)
Sometimes, before an overhyped game, players and coaches will do what they can to act like this particular week is like any other week, lest anyone think the foot would ever come off the pedal in the NFL. And then afterwards, you find out the truth.
In this case, the truth is that Sunday’s game was mammoth for the Vikings. Because of the stakes, because of the stage, and because of the opponent, it was all there for Minnesota.
“We knew what the stakes were coming into the game,” linebacker Eric Kendricks said over the phone from the Vikings locker room after the team’s win over Dallas.