Harrison Smith got emotional when discussing Kevin O’Connell’s message to the Minnesota Vikings before their 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
“You can look at the standings and the reality of things, but if you’re in the NFL, KO’s message is basically, what would your high school version of yourself think about just playing today?” said Smith. “And I think that kind of hit home with a lot of guys, just getting a chance to play in the NFL is fun. Make it fun. That’s what we do.”
You can hear the emotion in Smith’s voice. The message hit home. Minnesota is 5-8 after beating the Commanders and has less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs. There is a miracle path they can take to reach the postseason, but the season will most likely end after their Week 18 game against the Green Bay Packers this year.
The Vikings had to beat the Chicago Bears at home, a game that ended in a special-teams blunder, and take one of the Philadelphia Eagles or Baltimore Ravens games at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ultimately, it’s hard to be 2-4 in Minneapolis and make the playoffs.
Even if they win out, they’ll likely end up in the unsatisfactory position of being a .500 team that doesn’t make the playoffs or get a high pick. Given that reaching the postseason and contending are unlikely, O’Connell motivated his players by emphasizing the opportunity to play football at the highest level.
“I don’t need to be a newsbreaker here, it’s been hard at times this year,” O’Connell said in his postgame victory speech. “But you guys deserve this.
“I told you guys last night how much I appreciate the way you guys show up every single day. Because it can be easy to find that exit ramp and say, ‘Maybe we’ll be better off next year.’ Or you can work, or you can grind. Or you can just lean in because it’s got to matter if you love this game like you did when you were 16 years old.”
Kevin O’Connell built off a message running game coordinator Curtis Modkins offered before the Commanders game.
“The big message of last night’s team meeting was play that 16-year-old version of yourself,” who was playing at Nazareth Academy in suburban Chicago at age 16.
“Understand, what got you into this game, what made you fall in love with this game, regardless of the record, regardless of where we are this season. Just go out there and have fun, play fast, play free, and I feel like we all did that today.”
O’Connell’s message to McCarthy dovetailed with his strategy of asking him to focus less on his mechanics and footwork, and more on making the right read. McCarthy was 16 of 23 for 169 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. It was McCarthy’s highest completion percentage (69.6%) and passer rating (129.2) of the season, and also his lowest interception total.
“Decision making was going to be the priority today,” said O’Connell. “It felt like he played a very clean game, protected the football, and ran the show.”
However, O’Connell’s message wasn’t just for McCarthy. The entire team embraced it.
“The record may not be where you want it to be, but it’s still a fun game,” said Andrew Van Ginkel, who picked off Jayden Daniels in the third quarter. “You get to go out there. Your 16-year-old self would dream of being in this situation. That was kind of his point to get across, to go out there and play hard and have fun doing it.”
It’s a message the Vikings must embrace for the rest of the season. They’ll have to win out to get into the playoffs. That means beating the Dallas Cowboys on the road in primetime next week, and the New York Giants in the Meadowlands, before playing the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers at home.
J.J. McCarthy must build off Sunday’s win by playing well against Dallas and New York’s defenses, which are nearly as bad as Washington’s. McCarthy had what looked like a breakout game in Detroit earlier in the season, but he also had his worst game against the Packers.
The Vikings may still miss the playoffs if they win out. Even if they don’t, McCarthy’s development is vital for their future. He’s still likely their best quarterback option if he delivers on his promise as a top-10 pick.
However, the season is still meaningful for the rest of Minnesota’s players. On Sunday, Modkins and O’Connell reminded them why they play. Harrison Smith had a straightforward answer when a reporter asked why O’Connell’s message resonated with the playoffs.
“We’ve played football,” he responded, “a long time.”
Smith, 36, will make his 200th start next Sunday in Dallas.