<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Vikings dig in on a Thanksgiving feast celebration in the end zone

          • Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterNov 24, 2017, 02:45 AM
            Close
              Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

          DETROIT -- The Minnesota Vikings' 30-23 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday essentially wrapped up the NFC North race. Additionally, Minnesota has all but locked up the award for most creative touchdown celebration.

          Upon Case Keenum's 9-yard keeper to give the Vikings a 13-0 lead in the first quarter after the extra point, the quarterback was joined by his teammates in the end zone for an imaginary Thanksgiving feast.

          Keenum, Kyle Rudolph, Stefon Diggs, Jarius Wright and members of the offensive line sat in a circle and passed around invisible dishes as the feasted in celebration.

          One player could be heard yelling “Who has the stuffing?” while Diggs momentarily left the circle to grab the game ball and plop himself down in the center of the circle.

          “I didn’t even notice that Diggsy kind of went in the middle as the turkey,” Keenum laughed.

          Rudolph told ESPN that running back Latavius Murray was the “mastermind” behind the whole celebration. Unfortunately, Murray wasn’t on the field during Keenum’s touchdown and had to watch his teammates feast while he remained on the sideline.

          “My idea was to treat the football when it came to me -- the bowl of mashed potatoes -- and really flick my mashed potatoes on my plate,” Murray said. “Kyle was going to eat the turkey leg.”

          “I had the turkey, actually,” Rudolph said. “Unfortunately, Rashod Hill spilled a little bit on him, but fortunately I had my towel in my pocket and I was able to wipe his mouth for him.”

          From Rudolph’s "duck, duck, goose" celebration in Chicago to Adam Thielen's game of leap frog two weeks ago in Washington, the Vikings are getting the most out of the NFL’s relaxed rules on touchdown celebrations.

          “We just try to have fun,” Murray said. “We’ve been deemed one of the better celebration teams, and I think that’s pretty cool. So why not have fun with it and keep it going? Why not try to give the people what they want?

          So does that mean a Christmas-themed celebration is in the works for Minnesota's Dec. 23 showdown at Green Bay?

          "You never know," Keenum quipped.