Four days after the Minnesota Vikings‘ lopsided 41-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips addressed the players who ignored the team’s recommendation to wear different cleats on the tough Lambeau Field turf.
When asked by reporters about the trouble some Vikings’ players had staying on their feet, Phillips said the team alerted players about the conditions prior to the game.
“It was noticeable that it happened with us and it didn’t happen with them,” Phillips said. “It was something that was addressed, but guys got to understand the margin for error is so small.”
Despite a strong recommendation to switch to 7-stud cleats, which head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed after the game, many Vikings players didn’t listen. Phillips chalked it up to being professional, adding, “We’ve got to be better there.”
“It can’t be like, ‘Oh, I’ll get it next time,'” Phillips said. “You don’t know how many times you’re going to have that play to change a game or continue a drive. We have to be professional about it.”
O’Connell said he hoped his players learned something from Sunday’s cleat issue. However, the more significant concern should be why players on the team aren’t already well aware of what kind of cleats they should wear at Lambeau Field, a place where they play once a year.
The Vikings didn’t drop Sunday’s game to the Packers due solely to their lack of proper footwear, but it certainly didn’t help matters. Minnesota had already clinched the NFC North title, so playoffs were assured. However, Sunday’s blowout loss did drop the Vikings to 12-4, wiping out any hopes of stealing the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
