U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is a notoriously difficult place to play. Minnesota Vikings fans are some of the loudest in football, so it should come as little surprise that they didn’t take kindly to the words of New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates.
Several days removed from a Week 16 loss against Minnesota, which came as the result of a franchise-record 61-yard field goal as time expired, Gates offered up a controversial take. One Vikes fans took to heart.
“Surprised. Actually, I thought it would be a lot louder,” Gates told ESPN. “I thought especially when our offense is out there they would be a lot louder out there. But you know, they’re Midwest people. They’re too nice. I can say it because I went to Nebraska. I went to Nebraska. I include myself in that one.”
On Sunday during the Wild Card game, the Vikings and their fans made sure to let Gates know they heard him loud and clear. Then they made sure he heard them loud and clear.
Throughout the game, the Vikings would put Gates’ face on the big board and encourage fans to get loud, measuring the decibel levels.
Nick Gates will not live this down pic.twitter.com/sWDTQhfvuE
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) January 15, 2023
Ultimately, it was Gates and the Giants who got the last laugh. Or the last “shush,” if you will.
Following a stunning 31-24 upset that spurred the Giants onto the divisional round, Gates left the field and proceeded to hush the crowd along the way. And if they didn’t quite catch that, he made sure they would hear about his comments in the tunnel.
Nick Gates is perfect in every way pic.twitter.com/GUyFItZ5bZ
— The Entertainah (@TheEntertainah) January 16, 2023
THE BOYS ARE BUZZIN pic.twitter.com/8jB11qinz3
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) January 16, 2023
Vikings fans will certainly remember this for years to come but until the time for a rematch comes, the Giants have bested them and Gates has bested their fans.
