The Minnesota Vikings were losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks 35-0 when Cordarrelle Patterson busted through the Seahawks special teams unit for a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown. The Vikings were still down by 29 points when Patterson high-stepped into the end zone and started a frothy celebration, taking off his helmet and leaping into the arms of adoring fans at the wall (see below).
Fans had mixed reactions to the celebration, some mocking Patterson’s verve in what was a hollow — and momentary — victory in a battle where the war was lost. “Act like you’ve been there before dude,” said one commenter, while another said it was a case of “another player who cares more about himself than his own team.” The less cynical school of thought says damn straight Patterson should celebrate. First of all it is about the team — the dispirited Vikings needed a shot in the arm and he delivered. Not to mention that what Patterson had just done is rare — just six times this season has a kickoff been run back for a TD. Plus: the 101-yard return makes Cordarrelle Patterson number one in the NFL in kickoff return stats for 2015, averaging 31.11 per, having run back kicks for 840 yards in total. So it’s no fluke. Patterson was pumped, as he should have been. No quit in him, and that’s why he was excited. The other Vikings had some quit. Seahawks won 38-7.
Cordarrelle Patterson ??: 101 yards UNTOUCHED to the house and busts out the Prime Time high step. #SEAvsMIN https://t.co/8wLj5czDXy
— NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2015
