What was expected to be a meaningless game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings turned out to feature a bizarre and thrilling event. High above the field in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, two men were hanging out in the rafters from a banner protesting a pipeline in North Dakota while the game went on.

Karl Mayo, 32, and Sen Holiday, 26, were decked out in climbing gear and spent a good portion of Sunday during the game suspended from the rafters in what ended up a 38-10 Vikings blowout. There’s no question what was happening up there was more intriguing than the action on it.

One of the men happened to be wearing a purple Vikings Brett Favre No. 4 jersey. The game continued on without being stopped. The man in the Favre gear stopped while danging from the rafters to call a media member to explain their protest.

The two men eventually were apprehended after a long standoff (hangout?) and charged with misdemeanor trespass and burglary charges, police said. It’s not entirely clear what they stole on the burglary charges.

Was this real life? And you thought 2016 was bizarre … Check this out:

There is a guy in a #Vikings Brett Favre jersey hanging from a banner inside US Bank Stadium. For real. pic.twitter.com/MJRtqNX9Zz — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 1, 2017





Watch as the seats directly below the man were cleared by police. No one in the stands, or either of the protesters, were hurt during the stunt.

Section below climbers being cleared out by police pic.twitter.com/vhFdGEtxaG — chipscoggins (@chipscoggins) January 1, 2017





And here were the cops going after one of the protesters in some incredible video.





Here is the protester going inverted — Happy New Year, everyone.

This guy is repelling upside down inside US Bank Stadium pic.twitter.com/FWNjjQ7pYU — Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) January 1, 2017





Here’s the Flying Favre not waiting for his pending arrest to make a phone call. What a game.

With police lurking above, guy in Favre jersey is on a phone call. pic.twitter.com/z60y1ikzAV — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 1, 2017





That call was apparently to (among others?) Pioneer Press columnist Brian Murphy, who IDed one of the climbers as 33-year-old Karl Zimmerman from South Minneapolis, although that ended up being an alias, naturally. Murphy said the protester would not reveal how he and his climbing partner sneaked in a massive banner (at least 40 feet long by estimates) and climbing equipment.

Media were sent this message while the man was suspended high above the field, detailing the nature of the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota:

Was just emailed this press release about the protest at US Bank Stadium. pic.twitter.com/kQ4lxA1hOl — Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) January 1, 2017





Here’s a better look at the banner’s message, which read “Divest #NoDAPL” with the U.S. Bank logo on it.

Another banner photo pic.twitter.com/QIWvbx99AX — Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 1, 2017





Here’s how the climbers/protesters appear to have infiltrated the stadium:

Statement from the folks that run US Bank Stadium. Nice explanation how they got in with equipment. pic.twitter.com/SFGyw12Mds — Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 1, 2017





In a wild season for the Vikings, this is just the latest bit of weirdness to happen.

Here is a protestor hanging high above the US Bank Stadium field on Sunday. (@BradBiggs) More

U.S. Bank did not issue a statement in reference to the protest. Although the protesters wanted to speak with the media, they were not allowed to and were charged. And that, dear readers, is how a strange Vikings season got even weirder in the final game.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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