The Viking Age
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Falling from grace: The story of the 2016 Minnesota Vikings

By Nicholas Coyer

Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks, right, with general manager Rick Spielman before the game with the Kansas City Chiefs at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks, right, with general manager Rick Spielman before the game with the Kansas City Chiefs at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a 5-0 start with a defense that was on the cusp of being historic, the Minnesota Vikings saw injuries become an issue that they couldn’t overcome.

Four months ago, Teddy Bridgewater fell to the turf at Winter Park and fans were left wondering how serious the injury was considering the called an ambulance to the facility. As news went out that it was a dislocated knee for Bridgewater, the hopes for 2016 crumbled faster than the young quarterback did the day before.

10 days before the start of the regular season the Minnesota Vikings announced that they traded a first round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the oft injured former Heisman Trophy winner and 1st overall draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Sam Bradford. The Vikings announced backup Shaun Hill would start the game at the Tennessee Titans.

The Vikings rolled to a 5-0 start with notable wins over the Packers, Panthers, and a great overall performance against the Texans. Clutch plays on special teams and defense gave the Vikings the look of a serious contender. Injuries began to mount against an offensive line that was supposed to be an improved aspect of the team. Even if the Vikings would have gone 5-6 from this point on, the playoffs would have been almost guaranteed.

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2-8… yep 2-8 is all the Minnesota Vikings managed to muster, needing to close out the season with a win at home to the Bears, who won the Halloween tilt at Soldier Field in convincing fashion, just to finish the season at the .500 mark.

To add insult to injury, over the last 10 games they have won only one more game than the Cleveland Browns. Historically becoming the 6th team to start 5-0 and miss the playoffs and the 2nd time EVER that the last unbeaten team in the NFL didn’t get a shot at the playoffs. Putting the Minnesota Vikings on the wrong side of history.

Every season, Vikings fans say they can feel more depressed with this seasons outcome than past seasons and this one is definitely no different. So many positives early in the season, the defense, special teams, and an offense that was coming together came crashing down.

From week 6-week 16 the Minnesota Vikings went from the top odds to be in the Super Bowl (24%) to  having just a 2.06% chance of making the playoffs. Obviously after the loss to Green Bay its now 0%, with the Vikings being mathematically eliminated.

Next: 5 reasons the Vikings need to win in week 17

All the real Vikings fans will watch and cheer for the Vikings on New Years day, a win won’t mean much but a win would give us the chance to say that in 2017 the Vikings are 1-0!

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