PHILADELPHIA _ The fact the Vikings were here at all, a week after the miraculous finish that defied six decades of precedent, was enough to suggest that things might really be different this time, that the franchise's sixth NFC Championship Game after its fourth Super Bowl defeat would be something more than yet another exercise in heartbreak.
The Vikings marched into Philadelphia as three-point favorites, with the NFL's top-ranked defense against a backup quarterback that hadn't thrown for more than 300 yards in a game since 2014. One game away from becoming the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in tis home stadium, Minnesota had given its fans reason to believe the payoff was finally here, that Charlie Brown's right foot would finally meet the pigskin squarely and send it soaring.
But in the end, with a crowd of Eagles fans jeering as they stood witness, Lucy pulled the ball again.
It's difficult, so soon after the Vikings' 38-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, to rank their most recent defeat among their most crushing NFC title game losses. But this one had to sting, both because of the opportunity lost and the manner in which it disappeared, in a game where most of what the Vikings had come to count on evaded them.
A defense that had only allowed one quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards this season was filleted by Nick Foles, the Eagles quarterback that had taken over for Carson Wentz just over a month ago. Foles threw strikes past just about everybody in the Vikings' decorated secondary: past All-Pro safety Harrison Smith, past venerable corner Terence Newman, past former 11th overall pick Trae Waynes. He finished with 352 yards and three touchdowns, completing 26 of his 33 passes while being sacked once.
Case Keenum, the improbable Vikings starter who'd led them to this point after Sam Bradford's knee injury, had his first interception of the season returned for a touchdown. It would be the first of his three turnovers, followed by a fumble that set up Philadelphia's third touchdown and a late interception after the Eagles had put the game out of reach.
The Vikings began the game with a masterful first drive that covered 75 yards in nine plays, silencing a raucous Eagles crowd with a 25-yard Keenum-to-Kyle Rudolph touchdown that came from a Pat Shurmur play call that isolated Rudolph on a linebacker. The Eagles punted on the next drive, and a fair catch interference penalty on Shelton Gibson staked the Vikings to good field position for their next drive.
It would be at midfield where the tenor of the game completely turned.
Chris Long got his hand into Keenum's ribs as the quarterback let go of a pass for Adam Thielen, and Patrick Robinson intercepted it, reversing field and cutting all the way to the right sideline before picking up a block and sneaking into the end zone. Robinson's interception return covered 50 yards, tying the game before the Eagles picked up an offensive first down.
After a Vikings three-and-out, Philadelphia marched 75 yards in 12 plays, capping its drive with LeGarrette Blount carrying Andrew Sendejo into the end zone for an 11-yard TD.
Two drives later, rookie Derek Barnett _ the defensive end the Eagles selected with the Vikings' first-round pick after trading Sam Bradford to Minnesota _ beat tight end David Morgan around the line of scrimmage after the Vikings slid their protection to help right tackle Rashod Hill.
The strip sack set up Philadelphia's third touchdown, and the Eagles later used a 36-yard gain off Zach Ertz's double move on Smith to set up a field goal and take a 24-7 lead at halftime.
After they built a 17-0 lead at halftime last week, the Vikings were outscored 62-19 in their final six quarters of playoff action. They will end the season with the typical round of questions prompted by these kinds of playoff defeats _ about what they could have done differently, about what they will do next with offensive coordinator Shurmur likely becoming the New York Giants' next head coach and three quarterbacks set to hit free agency.
But before the questions start, they will have to contend with the revulsion over what they lost.
There will be no home Super Bowl for the Vikings, in a market that is set to host the game for the first time in 26 years and likely won't stage it again for years. Instead, a heartbroken metropolis will be asked to put on its happy face and dole out Northern hospitality for two boisterous fanbases: the Patriots fans coming to watch their team play its eight Super Bowl in 16 years and the Eagles fans who spent much of the second half mocking the Vikings' "Skol" chant.
The payoff will come, perhaps someday. But on Sunday, Vikings fans were left with a revolting feeling that was at once fresh and familiar.
