5 best Minnesota Vikings moments of the past decade
By Adam Patrick
4. Opening U.S. Bank Stadium with a win over the Packers (2016)
After the roof of the Metrodome literally collapsed in 2010, the Vikings and their ownership were finally able to convince the state of Minnesota that a new stadium was needed for their football team.
The Vikings’ got their brand-new state-of-the-art venue currently known as U.S. Bank Stadium and the majestic building hosted its very first NFL regular season game in 2016. It was a Week 2 matchup that pitted Minnesota against the rival Green Bay Packers in front of a nationally televised audience on “Sunday Night Football”.
This game was also the first start under center for the newly acquired Sam Bradford. After Teddy Bridgewater was lost for the year to a nasty leg injury, the Vikings acquired Bradford in a trade with a Philadelphia Eagles right before the start of the regular season.
Minnesota’s new quarterback definitely had himself an impressive debut in purple and gold. Bradford finished the night throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings were able to squeak out a 17-14 win over the Packers.
Even though the rest of Bradford’s career in Minnesota wasn’t as impressive as his first start with the team, he’ll always be able to say he was the very first quarterback to get a victory inside U.S. Bank Stadium.