Former Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph talks team's chances of winning NFC North, working with Polaris

Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph knows the team will have to finish very strong to win its second NFC North title in three seasons. On3 recently spoke to Rudolph about how the Vikings (11-2) can overtake the Detroit Lions (12-1) and claim the division.

“It’s going to be tough,” Rudolph said. “For them, the good news is, they do play Detroit still the last month of the season, but ultimately it’s going to take more than just a win in Detroit in my opinion.

“…All you got to do is get in. We talked about it all the time when I was a player. You just got to get in the dance and if you get in, you’ve got a shot. We’ve seen a few teams over the course of the years back when there was only six teams and they sneak in as the sixth seed and ultimately get hot in January and go on to a Super Bowl run. So ultimately it’s going to boil down to who’s healthiest at the end of the year. And I like their chances that it’s going to be tough going through the NFC, but ultimately I think they have the team and the makeup that if they do have to go on the road and win a couple of playoff games, they’d be able to do it.”

After beating the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Vikings have won their last six games after losing two straight. A big reason for the team’s success is quarterback Sam Darnold who has thrown 3,299 yards and 28 touchdowns. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is having a Pro Bowl season, posting 75 receptions for 1,170 yards and seven scores.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings surprise veterans with new Polaris RZRs

Kyle Rudolph played 10 seasons with the Vikings (2011-2020) and went to the playoffs with the team four times. Earlier this month, the Notre Dame alum surprised two Minneost-based veterans with new Polaris RZRs at the Vikings’ Salute to Service game on Dec. 1. The Polaris RZR Pro R is featured in Season 01 of Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rudolph is working with the Call of Duty Endowment Program to help veterans get placed in high-quality careers after service. He’s encouraging fans to go to Alltroo to donate to the program and enter a sweepstakes where they can win a Polaris RZR and a Call of Duty-themed XBOX console.

The Call of Duty Endowment partnered with the @Vikings and @PolarisRZR to honor two military heroes
for Sunday's game, and surprised them with brand-new
Polaris RZR Pro R 4s. Thank you for your service, and
enjoy the ride! pic.twitter.com/KIl5bWXx5D

— Call of Duty Endowment (@CODE4Vets) December 4, 2024

“It was super cool to be able to partake in the Vikings Salute to Service Game with Polaris,” Rudolph said. “To be down on the field with CEO Mike Speetzen, the surprise of both of our Minnesota veterans was really incredible. To be able to watch them on the big screen, play against Vikings in Call of Duty and then see the Polaris Razors in the game, see them using them in the game, and then ultimately for the Vikings players to be like, ‘Hey guys, turn around. Those are your Razors right there.’ And it was just incredible because even 30, 45 minutes later, the guys were sitting in their Razors and still couldn’t believe they got to keep ’em.”