As another Super Bowl approaches I’d like to take a moment to express what it’s like to be a Vikings fan. Ah, the Minnesota Vikings. A team that has gifted us fans with powerhouse teams that have given us excitement and optimism. But we know better. I’ve seen decades of thrilling moments, legendary wide receivers like Randy Moss and Chris Carter, and players such as Tommy Kramer, Darren Nelson, Randle McDaniel, Daunte Culpepper, Wade Wilson, Chris Doleman, AP, Jared Allen, and most recently JJ and Sammy D.
But of course, once again, our promisingly regular season is followed up with a soul-crushing playoff letdown. If you’ve been a Vikings fan for more than five minutes, you know that postseason success isn’t our forte.
I was planning on hyping up my latest cribbage board around now, but as usual the Vikings are watching the Super Bowl at home, same as me. What’s it called when someone expects a different outcome when over and over again the outcome is always the same?
That’s right Albert… someone take me to the looney farm cause each year I come back for more punishment. And on a side note, in what universe does Detroit become a formative opponent. The Lions? Seriously?
So, in honor of another playoff season blown and not having a horse in the race, let’s look back at some painful postseasons that Vikings fans have endured.. but first my shameless plug… for sale from Cribbage King, an 18 inch handcrafted cribbage board featuring a disgruntled Viking. See this and other cribbage boards at www.cribbageking.com
1998 NFC Championship. The Gary Anderson Game.
Expectation: A 15-1 team, an unstoppable offense, and a kicker who literally hadn’t missed a field goal all season. He’s one of us, his last name is Anderson for god’s sake! What could go wrong?
What happened? Oh, just Gary “ambiguous duo” Anderson missing a 38-yard chip shot that would have iced the game. Instead the dirty-birds took full advantage, tied it up, and then won in overtime. The football gods are ruthless.
2000 NFC Championship 41-0. Enough Said.
Expectation: After bouncing back from the ˜98 heartbreak, the Vikings entered the NFC title game with a stacked offense featuring Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Daunte Culpepper. The Giants were just a stepping stone to our inevitable Super Bowl glory.
What happened?: The Vikings got wikity-wikity-waxed. The Giants scored 41. The Vikings scored zero. The game was over by the first quarter. To this day, this remains one of the most humiliating NFC Championship losses in NFL history.
2009 NFC Championship. The Favre Interception.
Expectation. Brett Favre, at age 40, was playing some of the best football of his life. The Vikings steamrolled into the NFC Championship, and it truly felt like destiny.
What happened?: Five turnovers, a brutal Favre interception when the Vikings were in field goal range, and an overtime loss to The Big Easy. Oh, and later we found out that New Orleans defense was literally getting paid to injure players. Not that that changed the outcome.
2015 Wild Card Blair Walsh Nightmare Kick
Expectation: It’s a 27-yard field goal. That’s an extra point. How could he possibly miss it?
What happened?: More like the Blair Witch. Witchity-Walsh hooked it left by a mile, instantly becoming a permanent meme in Minnesota sports history. The Sea Birds escaped with the win, and us Vikings fans added another page to the encyclopedia of misery.
2017 NFC Championship“ The Minneapolis Miracle Hangover
Expectation: After one of the most epic finishes in playoff history the Minneapolis Miracle the Vikings were destined to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
What happened?: I’m really starting to dislike teams with bird mascots, Falcons, Seahawks, and now the Regal-Beagle Eagles… The Eagles demolished the Vikes 38-7, turning a magical season into another what could have been.
If you’ve made it this far your either not a Vikings fan or a gluten for pain. Maybe one day the Vikes will get past the skunk line, but until then, cribbage anyone?
Order at CribbageKing.com.
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