Top 10 Viking Playoff Wins

With the "Drive for Five" commencing tomorrow, I thought this would be a good time to take a walk down Vikings post season memory lane and take a look at what I think are the 10 best Viking playoff victories in franchise history. I gave more weight in the rankings to conference championships than divisional or wildcard games, but with that said I think we will all agree on what the #1 game is. Anyways, sit back, relax, and enjoy the blog.

10. at New Orleans, 1987 (Wildcard): Vikes 44, Saints 10. The first post season appearance by the New Orleans Saints turned out to be the most lopsided post season victory in Vikings history. The Vikings jumped out to a 31-10 halftime lead, and Wade Wilson hit Hassan Jones on a 44 yard hail mary as time expired in the first half. The Vikes amassed over 200 yards rushing from the likes of Darrin Nelson, DJ Dozier, Alfred Anderson, and Rick Fenney.

9. Los Angeles, 1976 (Conference Championship): Vikes 24, Rams 13. The Rams took control early, but the momentum completely changed when Bobby Bryant went 90 yards on a blocked field goal, and although the Rams got close, the Vikes closed them out in the 4th quarter to send Minnesota to their third Super Bowl in four years, and fourth overall. Chuck Foreman had almost 200 yards of total offense, and the aging but proud Purple People Eaters harassed Pat Haden (yeah, the same guy that does the Notre Dame games) all day long.

8. Washington, 1976 (Divisional): Vikes 35, Redskins 20. George Allen brought his over-the-hill gang to Met Stadium to meet the almost-over-the-hill Purple People Eaters, and the Vikings set the tone early. Brent McClanahan (who would later become part of Viking Super Bowl infamy, but I digress) ripped off a huge run on the first play from scrimmage, and both he and Chuck Foreman had over 100 yards rushing on the day. Sammy White caught a 27 yard touchdown pass that deflected off the back of Chis Hanburger, and it was essentially over by halftime.

7. at Dallas, 1973 (Conference Championship): Vikes 27, Dallas 10. Rookie Chuck Foreman gave the Vikes an early lead, but future dope addict Golden Richards returned a punt to make it close. Two big plays by the Vikings, a 54 yard Fran Tarkenton to John Gilliam pass and a 63 yard Bobby Bryant pick six put the nail in the coffin for Dallas, sending Minnesota to their second Super Bowl in four years. The Gilliam touchdown was my earliest Viking memory, because my Dad got up from his chair and whooped and hollered, and I am proud to say that he passed that family tradition down to me, and it continues to this day.

6. Cleveland, 1969 (League Championship): Vikes 27, Cleveland 7. The last NFL championship was won by the Minnesota Vikings over the Cleveland Browns in a game that sent the "40 for 60" Vikings to what was then called the AFL-NFL Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Purple People Eaters dominated Cleveland, and the Vikes jumped out to a 27-0 score before Cleveland avoided the shutout in the fourth quarter. Oh, when I'm on my deathbed I'll know I'll be going to Hell if I hear Hank Stramm and that whiny little voice say "65 Toss Power Trap" over. And over. And over.

5. Los Angeles, 1974 (Conference Championship): Vikes 14, Rams 10. I remember this being a close game throughout, and Rams quarterback James Harris giving the defense fits but threw two costly picks as the Rams were driving. The Vikes won behind a steady, but not spectacular running game spearheaded by an aging Dave Osborn, #41 in your program, but #1 in your heart.

4. Los Angeles, 1969 (Divisional): Vikes 23, Rams 21. My Dad is getting older, and his memory isn't what it once was, but he remembers this game pretty well. Joe Kapp went and won it in the fourth after he tried to lose it for the first three. The Rams jumped out to a 17-7 lead at the Met. He willed the team to a late fourth quarter touchdown, and Carl Eller sacked Roman Gabriel in the end zone to cap a 10 point, come from behind victory.

3. at New York, 1997 (Wildcard): Vikes 23, Giants 22. Denny 'The Sheriff' Green gets his first playoff win as Vikings coach in a game the Vikings had absolutely no business winning. They looked lethargic and disinterested the entire game, and in the last 90 seconds scored 10 points to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.

2. at San Francisco, 1987 (Divisional): Vikes 36, 49ers 24. And it wasn't that close. The 49ers were the #1 seed going into the playoffs, and a Reggie Rutland/Najee Mustafaa 48 yard pick six put the 49ers into a 20-3 hole which they would never climb out of. Joe Montana was so bad that he was benched, and Anthony Carter had 227 yards receiving, which is/was an NFL playoff record. He also had 6,407 yards in punt returns that game as well.

1. at Green Bay, 2004 (Wildcard): Vikes 31, Packers 17. How do I love this game? Let me count the ways. The Vikes underachieved all year and backed into the playoffs after they lost at Washington and Randy Moss walked off the field. No one, and I mean no one, thought the Vikings had a chance. Daunte Culpepper played flawlessly, the defense picked off Brett Favre four times, Randy Moss treated Al Harris like a little bitch the whole game, and then mooned Lambeau. Joe Buck's head almost exploded, I pissed myself I was laughing so hard, and after the decade long media orgasm over Brett Favre, it was nice to see him get his ass whipped by the Vikings. In the playoffs. At Lambeau. Ironically, the Lambeau moon by Moss was the catalyst that lead to his trade that brought the Vikings the Troy WIlliamson pick. What was your favorite Troy Willimason moment?

Oh, and burn in Hell, Red McCombs.

And I can't get out of here without mentioning the 1980 hail mary against the Browns. It wasn't a playoff game, but it clinched the division for the Vikings. Joe Senser and Ted Brown ran a hook and ladder to set up the Touchdown Tommy Kramer to Ahmad Rashad and his one handed catch, and for pure theater, I think it was the most exciting game I can ever remember watching.

Enjoy the game.