The 2017 NFL season was a magical one for the Minnesota Vikings...until it wasn't. In a year where Super Bowl LII was being played in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium, it felt like the stars were lining up for the purple and gold to represent the NFC in the big game.
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Momentum grew even more for the Vikings in the postseason, when fans got to witness the improbable "Minneapolis Miracle" pass from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs to eliminate the New Orleans Saints and move into the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sadly, things fell apart in a major way for Minnesota in the conference finals. The Philadelphia Eagles poured 38 points on Minnesota in a deflating game that got out of control fast while the Vikings only managed to score seven.
Harrison Smith shares depressing truth about 2017 NFC Championship
Recently, Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith was a guest on Green Light with Chris Long and talked about the team's mindset heading into the 2017 NFC Championship game and how it made him feel.
Smith states that he thought the Vikings would "roll" the Eagles in that game. He added that 's watched the game on several occasions, noting Philadelphia's big plays that turned out perfect for them on that day.
"Y'all just smacked us."
- Harrison Smith via Green Light
Of course, Chris Long was a member of that Philadelphia Eagles team in 2017. The defensive end announced he would donate his entire salary that season to charity and played in all 16 games for Philadelphia.
The Eagles would go on to defeat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl by a score of 41-33. While it would have been great to see the Vikings in that game instead of Philadelphia, that NFC Championship game crushed those dreams in a harsh way.
Minnesota Vikings fans are no strangers to heartbreak. Some people believe the team is cursed while others have moved on from the past to put their hope in a future Super Bowl appearance for the purple and gold.
This conversation will likely open some wounds for Vikings fans who have tried to forget about this crushing postseason loss to the Eagles. It isn't like Minnesota hasn't given most of their fans a lot of stress, anxiety, and heartbreak over the years where just supporting the team likely isn't recommended for the health of your heart.
