The Minnesota Vikings just concluded a difficult two-game European road trip, ending with a 1-1 record in tow. The team had some very real, tremendous barriers. They especially struggled without quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has missed the last three games with a high right ankle sprain. The journey began with a heartbreaking first game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Vikings were edged 24-21. To their credit, they bounced back, defeating the Cleveland Browns 21-17.
As the Vikings moved, they fought against a lack of sleep. Getting to London aside, they both changed up their schedules significantly to prepare for their matchups across the pond. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell focused on maintaining a positive mindset throughout the week, urging his players to avoid making excuses.
J.J. McCarthy’s Recovery and Team Dynamics
McCarthy’s absence from the field thus far has sparked speculation that he may not return as a starting QB anyway. In his absence, Carson Wentz assumed the role and produced some of the most impressive (and head-scratching) duels that have kept fans and future TV analysts buzzing. Wentz’s QBR is 27th in the NFL and he’s at 10.2% for sack rate, 31st in the NFL. He’s looked much improved and much better than McCarthy’s first few starts earlier in the season.
Even though he didn’t practice in London, McCarthy was an unmistakable presence within the locker room. His recovery from an ankle injury will be major for the Vikings with only one game left after this week. The team traveled across Europe and walked with fierce resolve. They were met with adversity, including wide receiver Jordan Addison being benched for one quarter after missing a walk-through practice. The team’s chemistry and togetherness was definitely tested over this stretch.
“It should feel as normal as possible to our guys while dealing with not sleeping in your own bed and all that stuff, but that’s kind of little stuff to me.” – Kevin O’Connell
Minnesota Vikings players react on social media as their team practiced in Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday before leaving on overnight flight to London. Changing trip itineraries can dramatically affect athletes’ performance on the field. This effect is compounded when they are kept away from home for long hours.
Overcoming Adversity on the Road
The challenges the Vikings encountered there would be familiar to anyone on an ill-fated European tour. Fatigue from travel and disruption to their daily routines further challenged their stoicism. Players reported that they felt the long time away from home was adversely impacting their mental health. Defensive end Jonathan Greenard commented on how tiring the trip was, saying,
“I’ll be the first to say I would not like to do back-to-back [again]. It was taxing… We could sit here and make a bunch of excuses that, ‘Oh, man, we’re just exhausted.’ But at the end of the day everybody is tired.”
During the trip, team members stressed the necessity of being nimble while traveling. T.J. Hockenson emphasized that numerous factors contribute to players’ performance levels when traveling:
“You’re not eating the way you normally eat. You’re not getting the recovery you normally get… But at the end of the day, it’s like, ‘Let’s grind. Let’s not seek comfort.’”
The resolve to bounce back from that level of misfortune is a key trait of all great teams. Lance O’Connell’s most important point was that going after hurdles just gets you more hurdles. Most importantly, he underscored the value of resilience and camaraderie in getting past those obstacles.
Looking Ahead: Next Steps for the Vikings
As they return home from Europe, the Vikings must shift their focus toward upcoming games and the rest of their season. McCarthy’s return to full practice is still up in the air, but whatever happens, his teammates will be rooting for him. Wentz provides some much-needed stability under center. O’Connell’s coaching will be important for implementing schemes that maximize the team’s strengths and address their weaknesses.
Going forward, the Vikings will need to keep up the camaraderie and collective resolve that’s served them so well so far. Aside from all the volleyball and competition, the players agreed that sharing life together during this long trek helped shape character and camaraderie.
“There’s certainly some team building and camaraderie happening,” Brian Flores stated regarding their time abroad.
The Vikings scored a much-needed boost to their playoff hopes with their victory against the Browns. Now, they’re looking forward to further developing this momentum as they continue on the rest of their season.
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