Running back Mike Boone found daylight immediately behind left guard Pat Elflein and center Garrett Bradbury, two of the only Vikings starters to play during Sunday’s 21-19 loss to the Bears.
Boone’s 59-yard run on the opening snap was the initial thrill of a roller-coaster afternoon in which he was involved in two turnovers, was tackled for a safety and ran for 148 yards on 17 carries.
“I saw that the offensive line opened a hole,” Boone said, “and you know, I just do what I do.”
Coach Mike Zimmer decided to play the three interior starters of the Vikings offensive line, despite nearly every other starter treating Week 17 as a bye week before the NFC wild-card round.