In Dublin, Kevin O’Connell said the Minnesota Vikings’ trip overseas would bring the team together. They sent 37,000 lbs. of gear, over 7,000 meals, and 195 people 4,000 miles for games at Croke Park in Dublin and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The Vikings left the United States 2-1, coming off a 48-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals before they headed across the pond. Still, it took a miracle fourth quarter to stave off the Chicago Bears in Week 1, and the Atlanta Falcons had beaten them 22-6 in Week 2.
Minnesota had to win in Europe before facing a gauntlet upon returning to the States. The Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens await the Vikings after their Week 6 bye. Still, O’Connell’s message to the team was to embrace being together as a team while abroad.
“I told them, it feels like summer camp,” O’Connell said. “We’re on a trip together for the weekend, and let’s enjoy the heck out of it.”
Dublin welcomed the Vikings wholeheartedly. There were purple flags strewn throughout the city, and a local pub served Jucy Lucy’s. Still, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a larger presence, given their ownership’s connection to Ireland.
As the Vikings entered Croke Park, summer camp started to look like Camp Crystal Lake. It was a fitting setting for Ireland’s first NFL game. Ireland plays its Gaelic football playoffs in the 80,000-seat stadium, which is in a working-class neighborhood, a fitting second home for the Steelers.
Sometimes, the “home team” in Europe is more of a technicality. The New Orleans Saints hosted the Vikings at Tottenham Stadium in 2022, but the Vikings may have had more fans attend. The numbers were about equal for Minnesota’s game this year against the Cleveland Browns, even though Cleveland was hosting.
However, Croke Park was full of Steelers fans. The Vikings entered the Pittsburgh game missing Ryan Kelly and Donovan Jackson. Without Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, Aaron Rodgers picked apart their defense. Brian O’Neill and reserve center Michael Jurgens joined them on injured reserve after the game.
Despite being down 24-6 in the fourth quarter, the Vikings surged to make it a 24-21 game. Still, they ultimately came up short because they failed to capitalize on opportunities. The Steelers offered Minnesota a chance to come back and win it, but the Vikings also couldn’t get out of their own way.
“We just didn’t do enough things to overcome our own execution or the injuries or whatever,” O’Connell said after losing in Ireland. “I don’t really look at anything other than we’ve got to improve and continue to grow as a team.”
A trip overseas often has its share of twists and turns. However, the Vikings arrived at their team hotel outside London with a list of injuries long enough to wrap around the globe.
Hanbury Manor is an idyllic hotel and country club in Ware, 20 miles outside downtown London. There are rolling hills, an 18-hole golf course, and a full-sized football field for them to practice on. Still, the Vikings brought their demons with them.
Behind one door is J.J. McCarthy’s slow start and lingering injury. Behind another is Blake Brandel, the swingman reserve offensive lineman, snapping balls to backup quarterback Carson Wentz. Still, the O-line held off Myles Garrett and the NFL’s No. 1 defense long enough to stage a successful comeback.
“I’m so proud of those guys,” said Wentz, referring to the offensive line. “For guys to do what they did today in a unique week [was incredible].
“We were down a handful of guys coming into the game. Blake Brandel starting his first game at center. Joe Huber starting for the first time ever. Justin Skule starting at right tackle and then flipping to left tackle against arguably one of the best defensive ends in the world. Those things are not easy to do.”
Wentz suffered a shoulder injury at the end of the second quarter but returned for the second half. The Vikings had Christian Darrisaw on a snap count. Jordan Addison returned from a suspension in Ireland, but didn’t play in the first quarter in London because he missed a walkthrough.
The Vikings faced adversity, but they came out no worse for wear. O’Connell said he was able to conduct a typical week of practices at Hanbury Manor, only they were practicing at the same place where they sleep. The team bonded over meals together and shared experiences in a foreign country.
“Being here for 10 days and just bonding with everyone and spending that extra time communicating and connecting with each other, it definitely was a great trip, even though it was very long and a little tiring,” said Jefferson. “It was just great for everybody to come together through adversity.”
O’Connell emphasized connectedness before Sunday’s game in London. He needed a group that was different from what he and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah envisioned in the offseason to pull off a win against Cleveland’s stout defense before facing a challenging schedule upon returning home.
“You don’t win a game like that unless you are a very connected football team,” O’Connell said in his postgame speech after beating Cleveland 21-17. “There are a thousand things we could all do better, but the best news is we’re at the bye. We got the 1-0 that we so desperately, relentlessly needed.”
Minnesota should heal up during the bye. However, they’ll have multiple players on injured reserve when they face the Philadelphia Eagles two Sundays from now. Still, we know they’ll attack the game relentlessly, regardless of the circumstance. They believe they can win shorthanded.
The Vikings have returned home beaten but unshaken.