It’s the two-year anniversary of the Minneapolis Miracle, so let’s watch it again

Exactly two years ago today, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off one of the greatest plays in NFL history.

Trailing the New Orleans Saints by a score of 24-23 with just ten seconds left on the clock, the Vikings were facing a 3rd-and-10 from their own 39-yard line with no time outs remaining. The hope was that they could connect on a long enough pass to give Kai Forbath an opportunity at a game-winning field goal. . .while getting out of bounds, of course.

Case Keenum found Stefon Diggs on the right sideline on a completion that looked like it would have given Forbath that chance. However, Diggs. . .in a move that had people like me that were watching it on TV wondering exactly what the hell he was doing. . .put his hand on the ground, stayed on his feet, and did not go out of bounds.

Because, unlike me and the rest of the TV viewers, Diggs knew he had a clear path to the end zone, and a few seconds later he was standing in the end zone celebrating a 61-yard game-winning touchdown. U.S. Bank Stadium was going insane, and the Saints were pouting so hard that they couldn’t even bother to put a full group of 11 players back out on the field so that Keenum could kneel down on the extra point.

Here it is again from what might be my favorite perspective of it.

Yes, I know what happened in the game that followed this one, but in addition to this being the anniversary of this game, there’s another reason I’m putting it up here.

I don’t know if it’s just on social media or if it’s something that happens outside of the internet as well, but there seems to be this notion out there that Minnesota sports fans generally aren’t allowed to cheer for or be happy about anything. Some of it comes from idiot fans of other teams, but there seems to be a healthy amount of it around Minnesota fans themselves, too.

Screw that. Screw all of that.

Spare me the crap about how none of it matters without a championship or whatever.

I get that Minnesota sports haven’t provided a hell of a lot in the way of championships in recent years, but they’ve given us some pretty damn great moments, including plays like the Miracle and games like the Twins winning Game 163 back in 2009 to get into the playoffs. You’re going to remember those moments, regardless of what any condescending jackass wants to say to the contrary.

So, rather than focus on the negativity and the garbage that we’ve seen over the past few days, I want you to take a moment today to watch the Miracle, whether it’s the feed above or the numerous fan reaction videos or Joe Buck’s call or Paul Allen’s call or whatever it might be. And I want you to think back to how great you felt while you watched it happen. And if the haters want to hate, politely but firmly invite them to kiss the fattest part of your ass. Because this isn’t about them. It’s about you, and us, and what this team has done for us over the years.

Happy Minneapolis Miracle anniversary, everyone!