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'We're going to play the game regardless where the plane lands'
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, a southern California native, offered his prayers to the L.A. wildfire victims ahead of next Monday's NFC Wild Card Playoff game at the Rams. If SoFi Stadium is deemed unsafe to play at, the game will be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
EAGAN, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell spoke Thursday for the first time since a massive windstorm in southern California early this week ignited wildfires, killing at least five and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.
O’Connell is a southern California native, and has friends who have lost everything. If that’s not enough, the Vikings are preparing to face the L.A. Rams at SoFi Stadium next Monday night in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The game is on as scheduled for Monday night at SoFi Stadium, but if it’s deemed unsafe to play in Los Angeles, the NFL has already said it will be moved to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
"You feel helpless watching it from here and knowing how many people are impacted. Southern California I hold near and dear to my heart, I have some friends that have lost homes. Our prayers are with all those impacted," O’Connell said. "Monday night’s game, I know it’s going to be played, we’re going to play the football game regardless of where our plane lands."
Rams tell season-ticket holders location hasn’t changed
What we know: The Rams sent an email to their season-ticket holders on Thursday, saying that the game is still on at SoFi Stadium as scheduled. That’s subject to change, pending on how conditions change with the wildfires.
The L.A. Kings had their Wednesday night game postponed, and the L.A. Lakers are postponing their Thursday night game.
‘This one does feel different’
What O’Connell said: The Wild Card matchup is a rematch of the Vikings’ 30-20 loss to the Rams in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football. O’Connell said he has been in contact with Sean McVay and other staffers there, with everything going on. O’Connell won a Super Bowl with the Rams as the offensive coordinator before the Vikings hired him to replace Mike Zimmer.
O’Connell and the Vikings have to strike the balance of recognizing the devastation that’s taking place in California, while also focusing on winning a playoff game.
"The impact that this has on people, and the worst aspect of it is the lives that have been lost. The people that lose a lifetime of memories and things in a home that they’ve built their families," O’Connell said. "There’s also a lot of people who have been evacuated that are trying to make sense of all this. There’s just so many people impacted. This one does feel different."