The Minnesota Vikings are riding high at the moment. Fresh off a dominant 42-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the team now boasts an impressive 11-2 record for the season—even without their top draft pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But for cornerback Byron Murphy, the team’s success doesn’t seem to be enough to distract from his irritation with the Detroit Lions.
Murphy has recently made a habit of taking verbal shots at the Lions, and his latest comments on Monday, December 9, added more fuel to the fire just a day after the Vikings’ big win.
Minnesota Vikings’ Byron Murphy is ‘Tired of the Detroit Talk’
Following Minnesota’s victory over the Falcons on Sunday, December 8, Murphy didn’t hold back when speaking with NFL Network analyst Tom Pelissero. While discussing the Vikings’ success, he pivoted to his frustration with all the media coverage surrounding Detroit.
“Y’all need to start talking about us,” Murphy said.
Then, he delivered his now-famous six-word jab at the Lions:
“We’re tired of the Detroit talk.”
Murphy continued, “We’re going to get to that [Week 18] game eventually, but right now, [we’re] just focused on every single Sunday and we’ll see them soon. But right now, talk about the Vikings because we on one right now.”
Brad Berreman of SideLion Report noted on December 9, “Players carrying derision for division rivals is nothing new, it’s totally expected and it’s totally fine. The Week 18 game between the Lions and the Vikings is shaping up to be huge, and both sides are looking forward to it.”
More Lions Talk from Vikings’ Byron Murphy
This wasn’t Murphy’s first time airing his grievances about Detroit. On Friday, December 6, after the Lions secured a win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, Murphy once again expressed his annoyance with the buzz surrounding the Motor City.
In an interview with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, he shared his frustration.
“Obviously Detroit came out with the win. I didn’t like that,” Murphy said. “It was a good game. (I) feel like some plays Green Bay could’ve done better. But, it’s football, things happen, and obviously Detroit won the game. But, we’ll see them soon.”
He added that he was “not liking all this Detroit talk right now” and that he keeps “hearing it over and over.”
“I’m just over them,” Murphy said. “I’m over Green Bay, too, but Detroit, they just talk about them too much, and I’m over that, as well.”
Berreman commented, “A 12-1 team is going to get talked about a lot, in good or sometimes critical light. And it’s not like the Vikings are being ignored. But use whatever it takes to motivate you.”
Media Hype Surrounding the Detroit Lions
With decades of losing seasons and no Super Bowl appearances, it’s no surprise the Lions are generating so much media attention this year. Their success is a classic underdog story, showing that anything is possible.
Murphy may not like it, but the buzz around Detroit isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
