10 most agonizing playoff losses in Minnesota Vikings history
By Ben Donahue
3. Super Bowl IV, 1969 Season
Kansas City Chiefs - 23
Minnesota Vikings - 7
In 1961 the Minnesota Vikings played its first season in the NFL. For the next few years the team slowly improved until the franchise finally went to the postseason in 1968.
By then, former CFL quarterback Joe Kapp was leading a group that included Dave Osborn, Gene Washington, Ron Yary, Mick Tingelhoff, and an emerging Purple People Eaters defense.
Both the offense and defense ranked first in the NFL, with the young People Eaters keeping opponents to barely nine points per contest.
Minnesota began the year with a loss to the New York Giants then won 12 straight before losing to Atlanta in the final game.
The Vikes took a 12-2 record into the postseason and took care of the LA Rams in the Conference playoffs before defeating the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship, 27-7. With that win, Minnesota took a trip to New Orleans to play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.
Kansas City was a solid team as well and ended the ‘69 regular season with an 11-3 record. Furthermore, the Chiefs had the AFL’s second ranked offense and the league’s best defense.
Minnesota entered the game as 13.5 point favorites, but someone forgot to tell KC that they were supposed to lose.
The Chiefs jumped out to a 9-0 lead on three Jan Stenerud field goals. Kansas City head coach Hank Stram then called his infamous "65 toss power trap" play to good effect as Mike Garrett rushed in from five yards out and a 16-0 lead.
Dave Osborn finally scored for the Vikings in the third quarter, but KC answered with another touchdown and an eventual 23-7 win. The loss was Minnesota’s first of four Super Bowl losses.