Vikings’ win finale over Bears 38-10; Game proves emotional for players uncertain of returning

Published 9:30 am Monday, January 2, 2017

By Chris Tomasson

St. Paul Pioneer Press

When Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn arrived at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, it was emotional. He paused when he reached his parking spot.

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“I was going to spot 36, and I was like, ‘Man, this could be my last time coming to this parking spot,’’’ Munnerlyn said. “So it kind of touched me a little.’’

Munnerlyn, an impending free agent, wasn’t the only one to feel that way. Several players weren’t sure if they would be playing again for the Vikings after their 38-10 win over Chicago in the finale.

Linebacker Chad Greenway is likely to retire after the season. He was the last player introduced before the game and received a big ovation.

“It was a day that I cataloged in my memory from the moment I got up,’’ said Greenway, who wants to take a few weeks before making a final decision on his future.

The game also was emotional for defensive end Brian Robison, 33. He is under contract for next season, but his salary-cap figure of $6.6 million might end up being too rich for the Vikings.

“You understand that the team is not going to be the same next year,’’ Robison said.

Whatever happens remains to be seen, but at least 2016 won’t go down as a losing season for the Vikings. The win left them at 8-8.

Still, that was a big downer for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations and began the season 5-0. The Vikings, doomed by injuries and a pair of devastating close losses to Detroit in November, lost eight of their final 11 games to miss the playoffs.

“It’s a good win, but it’s tough that that’s the end of it,’’ said Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer. “We did things (Sunday) like we did early in the year. We had turnovers, we played physical. We just didn’t do it enough toward the latter part of the year.’’

Sunday featured Minnesota’s defense forcing five turnovers. It saw  quarterback Sam Bradford complete 25 of 33 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns and set an NFL record with a completion percentage of 71.6. And tight end Kyle Rudolph caught 11 passes for a career-high 117 yards and one of those TDs.

It’s been a zany Vikings season, so naturally there was another crazy moment Sunday.

The game was disrupted early in the second quarter when two individuals unfurled a protest banner from a truss supporting the roof that read “U.S. Bank Divest #NoDAPL.” That was in reference to the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline.