The Sweet Little Perk from Vikings Loss
The Minnesota Vikings finally lost on Sunday, dropping a home showdown to the rival Detroit Lions by a score of 31-29.
The Sweet Little Perk from Vikings Loss
The Lions now lead the NFC because of a tiebreaker, but Minnesota will play the same Lions team to close out the season in Detroit. Stay tuned.
Despite the disappointment of a loss, though, Vikings fans gleaned a fascinating factoid regarding the club’s kicker, Will Reichard, who was flawless on Sunday: head coach Kevin O’Connell will be willing to give the man a shot from about 70 yards away.
That’s right, Reichard’s range — for a Hail Mary-like game-winning field goal — would be around 68 to 70 yards, information learned because Minnesota almost tried such a kick with the game on the line. Instead, quarterback Sam Darnold lined up for a real Hail Mary only to get sacked by the Lions’ ferocious defensive line.
Game over.
“I was thinking about sending him anyway. When the penalty marked it back, I think it would have been about a 73-yard field goal. At that point, just outside his range,” O’Connell told reporters after the loss. “But yeah, I absolutely, hopefully, would have gave him a swing there. … It would have been phenomenal to see Reichard get a swing.”
Minnesota’s offense had actually gained just enough yardage and spiked the ball to line Reichard up from 68 — which would’ve shattered Justin Tucker’s all-time record of 66 set against the Lions in 2021. But in a mad scramble to spike the ball, the Vikings were called for an illegal formation penalty — there are a lot of those in the NFL this season — shoving a would-be field goal attempt to 73.
At that point, O’Connell evidently believed a Hail Mary pass had a greater chance of conversion, though Darnold had no chance to release the ball whatsoever on the game’s final play.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Reichard had connected from 57 yards, 48, and 42 — with ease, even on the 57-yarder. His range during the summer was said to be around 70 yards, although onlookers never really knew if that would translate to regular season games.
But fans were one stupid penalty away from finding out.
Reichard is perfect in 2024, connecting on all 12 field goals and 18 extra points. The rookie hasn’t missed.
Next up for Reichard and the Vikings are the Los Angeles Rams in California on Thursday Night Football. So, let it be known that O’Connell will let Reichard take a swing from 68 to 70 in an emergency.
Not bad for a franchise utterly snakebitten by kicking over the last three decades.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.