The Viking Age
FanSided

Minnesota Vikings: How have we survived as fans?

By Nicholas Coyer

Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Jeremiah Sirles (78) and running back Adrian Peterson (28) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Jeremiah Sirles (78) and running back Adrian Peterson (28) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Vikings 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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As one of the most successful franchises without a Super Bowl championship, the Minnesota Vikings make a habit of going far but never making it all the way.

What is the definition of a glutton for punishment? A Vikings fan… It is the unhealthiest relationship that at times provides the highest of highs, and has always, even through our storied  tradition, always left us with the lowest of lows.

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Out of 28 playoff appearances and 4 Super Bowl appearances, it all adds up to just being a depressing side note to the fact that not a single one of our teams has ever hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, they did win 1 championship in 1969 prior to the Super Bowl format. The New England Patriots have 23 playoff appearances and 4 Super Bowl Championships, The Pittsburgh Steelers have 29 playoff appearances and 6 Super Bowl Championships, worst of all our dreaded nemesis and border battle combatants the Green Bay Packers get to boast 31 playoff appearances with only 2 Super Bowl Championships but 13 League Championships prior to the Super Bowl format.

I never got to witness the Super Bowl teams and the greatness of the likes of Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Alan Page or any of the other members of the famed Purple People Eaters. Of the Vikings Ring of Honor, I only was able to see Chris Doleman in his return to the Vikings, Korey Stringer, Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel, and John Randle. I am eagerly awaiting Randy Moss’ day of entrance to this hallowed fraternity, before Adrian Peterson he was the heart and soul, and majority of our offense even when wins were few and far between. His trade to the Oakland Raiders sparked a dark fury in my heart, only diffused by the start of the next season.

Aug 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL former wide receiver Randy Moss before the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL former wide receiver Randy Moss before the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

My earliest season that I can truly remember is the record-setting 1998 season, in which the strong armed veteran Randall Cunningham was enlisted to sling passes to veterans Cris Carter, Jake Reed, and the oft controversial rookie Randy Moss. It wound up being a recipe for, at the time, record-setting success.

On the way to the NFC Championship Game, led by the aforementioned passing attack, Robert Smith at running back, and a stout defense, the Vikings offense scored a then record 556, and became only the third team in NFL history with 15 wins. Even though that season was almost 20 years ago Randy Moss’ rookie record for receiving touchdowns (17) still stands even to this day.

If it wasn’t for Gary Anderson’s only missed field goal of the entire season, a miss mired in controversy, we would have been NFC Champions going on to face the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Instead we all Morton Anderson to kick almost the exact same field goal on the exact same side of the field in the Metrodome in front of a dazed, stunned and saddened crowd.

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In the 7 playoff appearances to follow, only two seasons led to the NFC title game, being shut out 41-0 by the New York Giants the following year and being gunned down by the New Orleans Saints in over time 31-28 in 2010, a game that still shines as a focal point in the Bounty Gate scandal amidst talk of having a large Bounty placed on injuring QB Brett Favre. It’s not like we didn’t have numerous challenges or teams that were not good enough to go all the way but in football it is what it, it truly is “On any given Sunday” and one of these Sunday is going to be our golden Super Sunday. Maybe this year…

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