Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; General view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Super Bowl-contending football teams sometimes find creative ways to win, and on Sunday at the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings used defense and a kicker.
The defense stifled Aaron Rogers to the tune of 3 interceptions — rather uncharacteristic for Rodgers — and Reichard took care of the rest, enough to earn designation as the game’s de facto MVP.
Reichard connected from 54 yards, 53, and 41 on 3 field goals, along with 2 extra points. Ordinarily, a kicker hitting 3-for-3 and a couple of extra points isn’t breaking news, but this is the Vikings — a club notorious for snakebitten kicking tendencies — and the weather in London wasn’t ideal, sprinkling and sometimes all-out raining throughout the game.
Most Vikings fans have horror stories about various kickers in franchise history, but so far, Reichard is responsible for none. For example, when Minnesota needed his final 41-yarder, not one soul would’ve been stunned if Reichard’s kick sailed right or left, diminishing the chances of winning. Instead, Reichard did the opposite, performing flawlessly on an afternoon when the Vikings required impeccable kicking.
Running back Aaron Jones injured his hip in the middle of the contest and didn’t return. Onlookers quickly learned that he’s the straw that stirs the drink on offense. The group failed to effectuate any meaningful production with Jones sidelined, so field goals became paramount.
And Reichard delivered, greenlighting a six-point Minnesota triumph in London and running the undefeated streak to five games.
Interestingly, Reichard evidently authored his heroism with little sleep. His wife Amelia posted to Instagram on Sunday, “Each night one of us hasn’t been able to sleep. This time change thing has been hard. But I’m so thankful to be with this one even if he’s sleeping and I’m wide awake. Home is anywhere with him by my side beyond proud of this guy. He slept 4 hours last night and is somehow still able to do what he needs to. Thankful is not enough. I love you.”
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson also complimented the new kicker. “To say he’s coming in as a new guy and making field goals left and right, and especially from the length that he’s making it, it’s definitely something that we need,” he said Sunday. “Especially not putting points on the board as an offense — coming out with three points is something. Of course, we want to get the seven, but if you take [the points he scored away], we don’t come out with this game.”
Jefferson also mentioned about the game MVP: “He’s a dog. He’s an SEC guy, so that’s something we’re kind of expecting from him.”
Reichard’s career in purple has started utterly perfect — no misses — and his dependability won Minnesota the game across the pond.
That’s why his special teams coach calls him Will The Thrill.
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.