Best Vikings year ever

[dead_poet]

Agree?

1998 Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has been to four Super Bowls, but that 15-1 '98 team that fell just short of making the big game was actually better than any of the four that won NFC championships. Led by Randall Cunningham, Robert Smith and Randy Moss, the offense averaged a silly 34.8 points per game, while the D ranked sixth in terms of points allowed. That gave them the second-highest point differential in modern NFL history. No wonder this team had 10 Pro Bowlers and four first-team All-Pros

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... es-history

[Mothman]

Agree?
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... es-history

No, and I'm not surprised the opinion above was expressed by a writer who wasn't around to see those conference-winning Vikes teams. I still think the '69 team was the best. There's certainly an argument to be made for the '98 team but unlike the '69 Vikes, they failed to actually reach the Super Bowl. They may have had the second highest-point differential in NFL history but it was only 14 points better than that of the '69 team and that team won the NFL (it was pre-NFC).

I want to a Vikes team to come along soon that leaves us no more room for debate.

[jackal]

For me it would be 2009.. I knew more about the game, and the Vikings. I also went to the VIP
tent, for the Green Bay game. Farve's first game against Green Bay.. The fans were so happy after the
game; many stayed in the tailgate lots and celebrated while Green Bay fans enjoyed the long ride home.
It was like seeing the school yard bully getting some justice while all his victims watched with glee...no
juice box ...just jello shots and viking themed Bud Light cans

I think 98 and 2009 were close to a wash.. The offense was better in 1998 but IMO the 2009 team was more
complete, as a team.

[S197]

No, and I'm not surprised the opinion above was expressed by a writer who wasn't around to see those conference-winning Vikes teams. I still think the '69 team was the best. There's certainly an argument to be made for the '98 team but unlike the '69 Vikes, they failed to actually reach the Super Bowl. They may have had the second highest-point differential in NFL history but it was only 14 points better than that of the '69 team and that team won the NFL (it was pre-NFC).

I want to a Vikes team to come along soon that leaves us no more room for debate.

'98 was the best year for me but I wasn't alive in '69

[losperros]

I'll take the '98 team. I think they fielded the most explosive offense of any of the teams and I feel their defense was underrated. They also had good special teams, both kicking and returning.

I don't remember the '69 team all that well, but I'll take Jim's word for how good they were. Maybe they really were the best.

As for the 2009 team, they don't even qualify in my book. A great team? Hardly. Although a weak early schedule and a last gasp by the great Favre helped them a lot, they blew it in December by losing 3 of their 5 games. That meant losing home field advantage for the post season, so they ended up 1-1 in the playoffs. Most of the same team came back the next season and they tanked, despite Chili's "all in" nonsense.

[808vikingsfan]

No, and I'm not surprised the opinion above was expressed by a writer who wasn't around to see those conference-winning Vikes teams. I still think the '69 team was the best. There's certainly an argument to be made for the '98 team but unlike the '69 Vikes, they failed to actually reach the Super Bowl. They may have had the second highest-point differential in NFL history but it was only 14 points better than that of the '69 team and that team won the NFL (it was pre-NFC).

I want to a Vikes team to come along soon that leaves us no more room for debate.

I don't know. I'm not sure if it is close. I was only 2 at the time but by just looking at the stats, it really looked like 1969 team was in another league. How did they lose in the SB?

[jackal]

I don't know. I'm not sure if it is close. I was only 2 at the time but by just looking at the stats, it really looked like 1969 team was in another league. How did they lose in the SB?

I honestly think they didn't take the Chiefs seriously, at all. The Vikings were heavy favorites and from watching
and listening to AFL/NFL organizations and sports reporters. The former AFL teams were regarded as very inferior quality
to the established teams. In fact the 98 vikings lost for the same reason. They were celebrating on the sidelines and putting
Champion T shirts on before the game was over. Atlanta took advantage of Denny Greene staff and the Vikings lapse and won.

[Mothman]

I don't know. I'm not sure if it is close. I was only 2 at the time but by just looking at the stats, it really looked like 1969 team was in another league. How did they lose in the SB?

They were outplayed and out-strategized by Hank Stram's Chiefs, who were an innovative team with a terrific (and very athletic) defense. The Chiefs realized the Vikes played deeper coverages and relied heavily on the aggressiveness of their defensive line so KC ran trap plays to take advantage of the aggressiveness, double-teamed Eller and Marshall to keep them from knocking down passes and relied on a short passing game, throwing underneath coverage. They put massive defenders over Mick Tingelhoff, crippling the Vikes interior running game.

The Vikes seemed overmatched and were caught off guard.

[J. Kapp 11]

They were outplayed and out-strategized by Hank Stram's Chiefs, who were an innovative team with a terrific (and very athletic) defense. The Chiefs realized the Vikes played deeper coverages and relied heavily on the aggressiveness of their defensive line so KC ran trap plays to take advantage of the aggressiveness, double-teamed Eller and Marshall to keep them from knocking down passes and relied on a short passing game, throwing underneath coverage. They put massive defenders over Mick Tingelhoff, crippling the Vikes interior running game.

The Vikes seemed overmatched and were caught off guard.

It was a different era in those days, wasn't it Jim?

Teams didn't have access to near as much film and scouting in those days as they do today, and I don't really think the Vikings realized what they were up against. The Chiefs had tons of talent -- 8 future Hall of Famers -- and were led by one of the most innovative offensive coaches of the era in Hank Stram. Kansas City snuck up on the Vikings and thumped them.

That being said, I still believe the Vikings were the better team. America's Game: The Missing Rings calls the 1969 Vikings one of the five best teams of all time that didn't win a Super Bowl, and I couldn't agree more. I've always said that if the '69 Vikings and Chiefs had played 10 times, the Vikings would have won the other nine. Bud Grant got out-coached that day -- I seriously doubt he would have let that happen again.

[DK Sweets]

It equally disappointing and nice that out of those Missing Rings features, the Vikings were on there twice. I might rewatch those soon.

[Bill Carson]

I don't know. I'm not sure if it is close. I was only 2 at the time but by just looking at the stats, it really looked like 1969 team was in another league. How did they lose in the SB?

Gatorade:

From the Orange Bowl to the Super Bowl

In the summer of 1969, Coach Ray Graves of the Florida Gators suggested to the Kansas City Chiefs that they use Gatorade to combat the staggering effects of a blistering Missouri sun during training camp. The Chiefs were so impressed with the “Gator coach's aid” that they kept it on their sidelines throughout the entire season… which concluded with a stunning victory over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

[DK Sweets]

lol...Gatorade it is.

[PacificNorseWest]

I wasn't even close to being born when the PPE's were wreaking havoc, but maybe that's a good thing? My suffrage is much less than those here who have been alive and have seen those 4 Super Bowl losses.

Having said that, '98 was special because it the first time the Vikings were really something special and has a 13 year old kid at the time, it was never easy wearing purple in Elementary school and what not for a team that was never really known by kids over here in Washington State. '98 was MY year. The bandwagon started and I'd pump my chest out as one who was there from the beginning (my beginning). Moss, Carter, Cunningham, Robert, it was all great -- in the end, equally heartbreaking.

'09 was the third shot at it (it's easy to try and forget that '00 or '01 season) and with my favorite quarterback at the helm. The team was the best in football that year and I think that's what makes these arguments interesting, because in '98 you can argue it was still Denver that people favored. In my opinion, it was much more equal and the Vikings, by many, were the best. I guess that's splitting hairs, but they each mean something different to me and being 13 as opposed to 24 played a role too.

[Raptorman]

lol...Gatorade it is.

Gives me one more reason to hate the Gators.


The 69 team for sure. Joe Kapp may not be everyone's cup of tea. But let me tell you something about that year. The Vikings averaged 14.2 yards per reception. Now, that may not seem like much, but remember, this is during a time period were the DB's basically mugged the WR's going down the field. To put it in perspective. In the last 13 years, one team under the current set of QB/WR friendly rules has had a year were they averaged 14.2 yards a reception. The 2013 Eagles.

The only team that beat the Vikings that year was the Vikings themselves.

[VikingLord]

I'd have to vote for the 98 team. They had everything. They were not only incredibly good, but they were also incredibly entertaining and had a lot of characters on the team. The offense was amazing to watch with a rejuvenated Randall Cunningham whipping deep balls with seeming impunity to a cast of lethal WRs. That aerial attack was complemented by an equally lethal running attack chaired by the combo of Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard. The defense, while not nearly as elite as the offense, played nicely off it and contained its own cast of characters headed by the immortal John Randle. Given early and usually large leads the defense was able to maximize pressure on opposing offenses and seemed more opportunistic in terms of creating turnovers. That 98 team had one of the most satisfying wins by the Vikings with their thumping of the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. I'll never forget the Moss scoreline in that game - 3 catches for 3 TDs and the back-breaking long run by Leroy Hoard that sealed the deal.

They were just fun to watch and I always felt they deserved a much better end to the season than they got.