Minnesota Vikings

Vikings DE Griffen guarantees victory over Lions

Published Sep. 17, 2015 11:45 a.m. ET

foxsports

In what used to be a bold move that now has become a totally clichéd act of false bravado, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen attempted to downplay the putrid performance he and his teammates put on Monday night in a 20-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers by reportedly guaranteeing a much-needed home victory over the division rival Detroit Lions on Sunday.

“I feel that we’re going to beat them because we’re going to be ready,” Griffen said Thursday, via the Pioneer Press. “And we took it personal. This is a personal game coming up. We’re going out there to make a statement. ... We’re going to go out there and beat Detroit. So I’m very angry right now, as you can see, because we prepared way too hard (for the 49ers game), and we’re going to go out there and get them.”

If anything, all Griffen’s comments will do is give the Lions some bulletin-board material, a completely outdated reference. A much more appropriate phrase would be “Twitter feed material,” right?

While most NFL coaches shun such bold statements, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer -- who didn’t hide his displeasure with the team’s effort Sunday -- actually in some respects praised Griffen, who was named a team captain, for his demonstration of leadership.

“The players voted him a captain, and he’s a guy I’m extremely proud of in the maturation that he’s had and the way that he’s grown up in a little ways,” Zimmer said, via the Star Tribune. “He cares an awful lot about the Vikings.”

Guaranteeing victory and other forms of gamesmanship is all well and good, but it all comes down to execution. And if the Vikings get out-hustled, out-worked and outplayed in the way the team did in a horrible overall performance against the Niners, Griffen will be left with egg on his face and an 0-2 record.

More from Sportress of Blogitude: