Vikings CB Is Sick of Hearing about “Them”
Sick of hearin’ about ’em.
Vikings CB Is Sick of Hearing about “Them”
That’s the word from Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy about the Detroit Lions, a club that owns a 12-1 record through 14 weeks.
Detroit is in the driver’s seat to win the NFC North, claim homefield advantage throughout the postseason, and win the Super Bowl, per oddsmakers’ forecast — unless the Vikings or another team provide a detour.
“Detroit came out with the win, and I don’t like that. We will see them soon. I’m not liking all this Detroit talk right now. I’m over them,” Murphy said late last week before his team chipped off the Atlanta Falcons by 21 points on Sunday.
And after the win over Atlanta, Murphy renewed his beef with Detroit, this time chatting with Tom Pelissero down on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium. “Y’all need to start talking about us. We tired of the Detroit talk. We gonna get to that game eventually. But right now, just focus on every single Sunday, and we’ll see them soon. Talk about the Vikings, because we on one right now,” Murphy told Pelissero.
Detroit won again in Week 14, defeating the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football in a game that Vikings fans didn’t really know what side to pick. A Packers’ win would’ve helped keep the NFC North hopes alive, while a Lions win sunk Green Bay further behind Minnesota in the Wildcard standings. In the end, Green Bay lost, and now Minnesota probably needs Detroit to lose once or twice before the two meet in Week 18.
Murphy, meanwhile, is straight balling. He’s logged 6 interceptions in 2024, even stabbing one from Kirk Cousins on Sunday with one hand. The veteran defender didn’t even cradle the ball with his other hand — he earned the pick like a wide receiver would a one-handed catch in practice.
Too, Minnesota’s defense continues to hum and force turnovers despite allowing too many yards throughout the Falcons showdown. It ranks second in the NFL per DVOA and third per EPA/Play through 13 games.
Minnesota next takes on the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium in one week. The Bears are totally reeling, experiencing a full-season collapse after starting the campaign with a 4-2 record. The Vikings are expected to win by a touchdown.
Murphy will seek interception No. 7 from Bears rookie passer Caleb Williams, who has fallen on harsh times in the last two months.
And undoubtedly, Murphy has the Week 18 date with Detroit circled. Here’s to hoping it means something. The Lions could have everything wrapped up by then.
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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.
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