The end zones at U.S. Bank Stadium were painted in vintage Vikings font Sunday, the sidelines festooned with logos from a half-century ago. The cheerleaders were dressed in replicas of uniforms from the team's first three seasons, while dancing to radio staples from Earth, Wind & Fire and James Brown. The Vikings' intrepid production team unearthed videos of old Hamm's beer commercials and an ad Bud Grant once did for a local Ford dealership.
Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips walked to the coaches' booth wearing an itchy wool sweater that could have passed for one Jerry Burns wore while overseeing Grant's offense.