6 most surprising Minnesota Vikings seasons of all-time

3. 2017 Vikings

Typically, when a team loses their starting quarterback and starting running back after their first four games, the rest of the season turns out to be full of disappointment. But this wasn’t the case for the Vikings in 2017.

After losing Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook to serious injuries, all Minnesota did during the season was win 13 games and make it all the way to the NFC Championship (some miracle thing happened too).

Following Bradford’s injury, the Vikings were forced to turn to their journeyman of a backup quarterback in Case Keenum. Despite never throwing for more than nine touchdowns in a single season before signing with Minnesota, Keenum went on to have the best year of his career in 2017.

In 14 starts, the veteran passer led the Vikings to 11 wins while throwing for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions.

Judging by his past in the NFL, Keenum’s performance in 2017 came as a surprise to many. The Vikings and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur were able to get more out of the quarterback than any other team had been able to ever do before.

Minnesota was expected to be a potential playoff team in 2017, but doubts about that happening quickly popped up after they lost their top passer and rusher early in the year. Instead of sulking around though, the Vikings and Keenum were able to put together one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history.