Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell lays out a challenge that could spark a championship run

Kevin O'Connell challenges the team

There are no easy wins in the National Football League and the Vikings know that just as much as anyone. 

The Vikings had a good game on Monday night, which means we get a postgame speech from head coach Kevin O'Connell. It's the highlight of the week, as O'Connell is lights out in delivering these speeches.

He delivered multiple game balls on the night.

• RB Aaron Jones
• EDGE Jonathan Greenard
• DE Jerry Tillery
• ILB Blake Cashman
• K Will Reichard

The game balls are always great, but it was the message he delivered after recognizing individual performances that stood out.

"This is a special football team in here, but we gotta go learn everything that's out in front of us right now. And we are gifted absolutely nothing. We're gonna have to grind going on the road for two out of our last three, put in the short week this week. Can we be a championship team? All right? When it's not ideal terms, I believe we can. We've proved it already. Championship football out for this team. We got to go earn it all right, because I love watching you guys win football games. Make sure you guys enjoy this, enjoy every second of this journey, because it special and where we're going is special. Love you guys, man."

Can this team be a championship football team? They are certainly proving they have the ability to thrive in those circumstances. Their only two losses are to a last second field goal by the Detroit Lions and the NFC West leading Los Angeles Rams just four days later.

The stretch run with the Vikings taking on three teams over 0.500 will show how good they really are, but if they sweep the final three games, they will have proven they have championship pedigree.