The Vikings and the Rams went to overtime, tied 18-18. The Vikings won the coin toss ... and then they did something very strange. Although the NFL's overtime rules are a modified version of sudden death rules that give a major benefit to the team with the ball first, the Vikings opted to kick the ball and play with the wind.
So far as I can tell, this has been attempted twice before. The Lions did it one time, and it backfired miserably. (One Lions fan described it as the most Lions moment ever.) And the Patriots did it in 2013 on a horrible night in Foxboro, and a special teams blunder gave them the win. (Things always work out for Bill Belichick.)
But the Vikings decided that the winds were strong enough that it would make a distance. Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein had already missed a 48-yard field goal due to high gusts. So they bucked logic and kicked.
Here's how overtime went:
1. Blair Walsh's kickoff to start the session -- presumably wind-aided -- goes into the end zone for a touchback.
2. St. Louis goes 3-and-out. The punt is returned all the way to the St. Louis 49-yard-line.
3. Minnesota goes 29-yards and Blair Walsh drills a 40-yard field goal:
The Vikings got three special teams plays in overtime, and all of them went the Vikings' way. RESPECT THE WINDS! PRAY TO THE WINDS!