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From Cousins’ chains to defense’s bowling strike, Vikings’ celebrations have gone to a whole new level

chris tomasson, pioneer press
·4 min read
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From quarterback Kirk Cousins going shirtless with chains around his neck on a team flight to the defense coming up with an elaborate on-field celebration mimicking a bowling ball knocking down pins, Vikings players have raised the bar this season when it comes to having fun. But they insist there’s a lot more good stuff still to come.

The Vikings (7-1) will put their six-game winning streak on the line on the road Sunday against the powerful Buffalo Bills (6-2), If they win, tackle Christian Darrisaw said to stay tuned for another must-see celebration involving Cousins on the flight back to Minnesota.

“I can’t tell you yet, but we’ve got something (planned),” Darrisaw said Friday. “You’ll just have to see.”

It was Darrisaw who helped get things rolling with the team’s recent celebrations on the team plane when Cousins wore his diamond-encrusted chain on the way back from a 28-25 win over New Orleans in London on Oct. 2, and a video made it to social media. Cousins then wore more chains on the flight back after a 24-16 victory Oct. 16 at Miami.

After last Sunday’s 20-17 win at Washington, videos were all over social media of Cousins being shirtless on the plane and wearing seven or eight chains. That included the Darrisaw’s chain that has a big medallion with “CD” written on it.

“I’m not going to count out Kris Boyd since he had his hand on starting it, too,” said Darrisaw, noting that the Vikings cornerback helped convince Cousins to wear the chain on the flight from London. “But it’s cool where this has gone. Hopefully, we can keep it going. So we’ll see what’s next for Kirk on these away games. We’re all just having fun, and the chemistry on this team is through the roof.”

During the win over the Commanders, the Vikings had a much-publicized celebration on the field. After a key interception by Harrison Smith midway through the fourth quarter, the veteran safety rolled the football toward the other 10 defensive players in the game gathered together. They all fell down while imitating bowling pins, with linebacker Jordan Hicks rocking back and forth before finally hitting the ground.

“I loved it,” Mark Schelerth, 56, a former NFL guard who was the Fox analyst for that game, said in a phone interview. “Most of those celebrations, I don’t like because I’m old. But I laughed out loud at that one.”

Linebacker Eric Kendricks said players had talked beforehand about the celebration but that Hicks ad-libbed his move for what Kendricks said “was the best part.” Kendricks said the defense has some other celebrations “on the backburner” and will be ready to roll them out after some future big plays.

But wide receiver K.J. Osborn said not to sleep on the offense. While fellow receiver Justin Jefferson has gotten lots of publicity for doing “The Griddy” after scoring touchdowns, Osborn said offensive players are working to catch up to the defense.

“I feel like the defense is kicking our butt right now with that bowling, and we’ve got to step it up,” Osborn said. “We’re going to work on something.”

With all the fun the Vikings are having, Osborn said it has led to them to “playing free” and has helped build “team morale.” Jefferson agreed.

“I love it,” Jefferson said. “This team is coming together as one. I feel like we’re enjoying ourselves, especially because we’re winning. … We’re finding ways to enjoy it.”

Jefferson, whose nickname is “Jet,” contributed to the chains around Cousins’ neck last Sunday by handing over the one he has with a medallion of a jet plane.

Cousins said there has been a “rule of no social media on planes,” but that obviously is no longer the case. Rookie linebacker Brian Asamoah got it started by posting on social media a video from the trip back from London. And multiple players since then have distributed videos of Cousins on planes.

“Once it got out and the train gets down the tracks, it’s hard to stop at that point, as evidenced by me not wearing a shirt last week,” Cousins said.

Nevertheless, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell likes it that, while his players are coming up with unique ways to celebrate, it hasn’t taken away from the work they’ve been put in to get ready for games. And he’s hoping there will be another celebration on the flight home from Buffalo.

“If we’re able to earn a chance to win this football game, I would hope our team would enjoy that,” he said.

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