Minnesota Vikings fans will never forget the Minneapolis MIracle. However, it may be surprising to learn some of the details from quarterback Case Keenum.
The Minneapolis Miracle was a shocking moment where fans of the Minnesota Vikings were treated to some last-second heroics in the Divisional Championship round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints.
The image of Stefon Diggs leaping to catch the pass from quarterback Case Keenum is something burned into the memories of everyone who watched the play. However, recently more details showed just how improbable the play actually was.
Although Keenum has moved on and is now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, he spoke at an event for their season ticket holders about the play and revealed that Diggs wasn’t the initial target for the play according to an article from ESPN.
In fact, the initial target on the play was Adam Thielen. However, Thielen was covered well. Keenum wanted to throw him the pass, but decided against it and went through his options.
Knowing the team was told to get out of bounds following their catch in order to give the team a shot at a field goal, Keenum just wanted to give his receivers a chance to go get the ball and stop the clock before time expired, and the team stressed getting out of bounds.
"“I just threw it to the sideline. I remember I lost vision of him a little bit behind my right guard and I couldn’t really see. I knew the ball came out of my hand really, really well. Sometimes it comes out good, and this came out great — I knew it was right where I wanted to put it. But I couldn’t see where Stefon was. And all of a sudden I see Stefon’s hands, his white gloves, just coming out of nowhere, and I’m like, ‘He’s gonna catch this ball.’ And he catches it.” Minnesota Vikings The Viking Age 0d - 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history More headlines around FanSided: 1d - Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North 1d - Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take 1d - 6 Vikings who (maybe) won't make the 53-man roster in 2023 2d - Which teams could be drafting a quarterback next year? 2d - Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022 More News at The Viking Age"
And Diggs did catch the football. He was quick to realize there was no defenders behind him and ran for the end zone instead of getting out of bounds, where there were defenders between him and the sidelines. He sprinted into the end zone while the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium erupted.
"“And I tell you, I’ve been in some loud stadiums, but they went crazy. I mean it was nuts. It was the loudest I’ve ever heard. I’ve been in Seattle, I’ve been in Kansas City, where they set the world record for loudest outdoor stadium, but it was loud. It was so loud.”"
Does your opinion of the Minneapolis Miracle change a little bit knowing that Case Keenum made a tough decision to throw to a spot on the field instead of a receiver?
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And Stefon Diggs making the decision to run for the end zone instead of getting out of bounds despite the call makes it even bolder. As more details come out about this amazing play, it becomes even more of a miracle.