EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—The path for Stefon Diggs to last-play touchdown fame and sudden Minnesota saviour didn't start with such brilliance.
Diggs only has arrived at this stage of his life and his career, a Vikings' standout on the verge of a Super Bowl, with an unrelenting diligence and a dose of humility.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—Their minds still racing with child-like exuberance over the stunning last-snap victory that sent them to the NFC championship game, many of the Minnesota Vikings remained awake several hours past midnight.
MINNEAPOLIS—As Case Keenum convened the Minnesota huddle with 10 seconds left last night, the situation staring down the Vikings was as simple as it was daunting.
With the go-ahead field goal by the New Orleans Saints that silenced this deafening stadium still fresh in the air, the Vikings were well beyond any moment of anxiety.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—Kai Forbath was planning to move into an apartment in New Orleans the week of the 2016 season-opener when a phone call from the Saints quickly turned his day upside down.
The players were off from practice so Forbath had no doubt about why he had been summoned to team headquarters five days before the first game.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—For fans of the Minnesota Vikings, at least the ones old enough to drive, there's a score to be settled with the New Orleans Saints.
Eight years ago, the last Minnesota team considered a strong Super Bowl contender was on the verge of victory in New Orleans in the NFC championship game despite four earlier turnovers inside the raucous Superdome.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—The Minnesota Vikings have begun another post-season adventure, backed by an often-burned fan base carrying several scars from flameouts of playoffs past.
MINNEAPOLIS—The Minnesota Vikings have won a whole bunch of games since their previous matchup with Chicago—a steady march to become NFC North champions that has put plenty of distance between the playoffs they're about to enter and that ugly first half they played against the Bears.
That's precisely where their path to the post-season began to straighten out.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—Anthony Barr has scrolled through the social media hate messages directed at him from disgruntled fans of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
One of them even arrived in the mail.
When Barr and the Vikings visit Green Bay on Saturday night, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker is bound to be the primary target of jeers at Lambeau Field.
MINNEAPOLIS—The Minnesota Vikings and their loud crowd overwhelmed the Cincinnati Bengals from start to finish, when they put on NFC North champions hats to celebrate the first major milestone of this season—with the hope of several more to come.
From coaches to players to fans, everyone in purple was able to enjoy a post-season tune-up.
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Alex Stalock started his extended stretch of action in the Minnesota net with his first NHL shutout in three seasons.
Blanking a Toronto team that tossed him aside less than two years ago made the feat that much sweeter.
