Kyle Rudolph saw the "Minneapolis Miracle" from the best view possible.
The Vikings tight end was about 30 yards behind Stefon Diggs, whose 61-yard touchdown catch gave Minnesota a 29-24 victory against New Orleans and put the franchise in position to reach Super Bowl LII. Minnesota meets Philadelphia on Sunday in the NFC championship game as a result of that walk-off touchdown.
Rudolph heard quarterback Case Keenum break the huddle after saying, "Someone is going to get a chance." Rudolph knew it wouldn't be him when Saints cornerback P.J. Williams jumped him in the flat. Rudolph knew it had to be Jarius Wright or Diggs. He had the perfect point of view.
"As I turned and watched Stefon jump up and catch the ball my immediate reaction was, ‘Please don't get hit or fall down inbounds,'" Rudolph told Sporting News on Tuesday. "Then he not only comes down with the ball but keeps his balance and has the wherewithal to turn and keep running. It was a pretty incredible play."
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Rudolph's view of the aftermath, however, runs far deeper than the constant replays he saw on the television Sunday night.
The sixth-year veteran rattles of the history of the organization. Four Super Bowl losses during the "Purple People Eaters" heyday. Two NFC championship game losses, including the heart-breaking loss against Atlanta in 1998-99. Some of that melted when Diggs crossed the goal line.
"If there's any fan-base that deserves an ending like that and to be on that side it's ours," Rudolph said. "Everything that this organization has gone through with the history of it, and specifically the guys on our team that have been around since the wild-card loss two years ago loss to Seattle. It's all the adversity we've faced these last two years."
That wild-card reference was the 10-9 loss to Seattle on Jan. 10, 2016, when Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal that would have won the game. Rudolph spoke up the uphill battles since then, including an 8-8 season in 2016 and the early-season struggles this year.
"Through Week 4 we lose our starting quarterback, our starting running back again, but nobody in our locker room or organization gave up," Rudolph said. "We kept fighting, and that's kind of a microcosm of our team and what we did the other night. That starts with Coach (Mike) Zimmer."
Rudolph said Zimmer congratulated the team, then reminded them it took a miraculous play to recover from losing a 17-0 halftime lead against New Orleans. Now it's about taking advantage of an opportunity to reach the Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium on Feb. 4.
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Rudolph said there's a reason Vikings players have remained vocal about wanting to play in their own stadium in "our Super Bowl." It's for players such as former teammate Chad Greenway, who played all 11 seasons in Minnesota and never reached the Super Bowl. Rudolph has the best view possible, so it's no surprise that perspective hasn't changed.
"Every fan, every former player, every former coach — this is for them," Rudolph said. "This organization is a family, and whether you played for a little while or coached here forever or were a fan since the first season, you're a part of this family and that's who we're doing it for."
Rudolph teamed up with TGI Fridays in their "Go Big for the Big Game" promotion for personal tailgates. Rudolph surprised Vikings players and personnel with a catered lunch of 250 pounds of Big Ribs on Jan. 9.
"Having a nickname like ‘Big Country,' it's a perfect partnership for their ‘Big Ribs for the Big Game,'" Rudolph said. "Not only for teammates, but staff, trainers and coaches and pretty much everyone in the building last Tuesday.
"We'll have to give some credit to the ‘Minneapolis Miracle' for that great lunch we had."
