Some years ago… maybe 5… the Vikings were hosting a game against the Chiefs. This was when Priest Holmes was a surprising bada$$ and the Chiefs were dominant. The Vikings were severely favored to lose… but out of the locker room comes Randy Moss… with the craziest Poofy Fro I’ve ever seen. Not only did the Vikings go on to completely DOMINATE that game, but they continually showed Randy on the jumbotron at the Dome, and every time he would know he was up there, and would do some hillarious sort of antic on the sideline. It was hillarious! On top of that… during halftime of that game Cris Carter was inducted into the Ring of Honor. Normally everybody disappears during halftime, but at this game, nobody (at least in my section, and the sections around me) got up and left. It was the most fun I have ever had at a Vikings game.

I’d have to say that the most memorable game for me (and I’m telling my age here…lol) is the Vikings first ever playoff win which was against the L. A. Rams in Dec. of 1969. This was the year of their first trip to the Super Bowl when they were led by “Injun Joe” Kapp and the famed “Purple People Eaters” of Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen. Things didn’t start off well for us in that game as we were down 17-7 at the half. The defense took control in the second half though and the climax was the sack of Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel near the end which preserved a hard fought 23-20 victory. The game was played at the old Met in typical Minnesota weather on a frozen field. Those were the days…. I always laugh when Chris Berman talks about the “frozen tundra” of Lambeau Field….Green Bay seemed like a tropical paradise compared to playing playoff games in Bloomington!

One of the most fond ones in recent memory was the win over the Pack in the wild card round at Lambeau a few years back at the end of the culpepper era. We had lost to Green Bay in both regular season games. Moss was rockin’ the fro and tore up the field. Also, he mooned the crowd.

Wow! Had to be very early 70’s. It was the year after the Colts won the Super Bowl. We won 10-3 and the defense was rocking the house. Fans just went berserk for The Purple People Eaters.
My friends Dad won a pair of the hottest tickets in town. We got to go and it was magical!

On a “not vikings related at all” side note… I love your profile image mjy! LOST is the best show ever!

This game is one of the most memorable for me because my college roommate was a Bears fan at the time. We were watching it on his TV, and I was afraid he might destroy it after Todd Scott’s INT return for a TD before the game was over.

This game stuck in my head years later when, as a Kansas City resident, I was shocked that the Chiefs didn’t care to re-sign Rich Gannon, who went on to represent the Raiders in Pro Bowls and lead them to championship games and a Super Bowl and set records and whatnot. Only “King” Carl Peterson could make such a decision (after having more faith in Elvis Grbac before that!) without being fired.

Honorable mentions to last year’s games vs. the Bears and Chargers in which AP ran for 200+ yards and Culpepper’s first game as a starter (also vs. the Bears).

At the old Met, a couple of days after Christmas. The Rams were led by James Harris, a dangerous man with a great arm. 7-3 Vikes at halftime.

Late in the 3rd, the Rams are pinned at their one yard line. They come out a bit, and then Harris hits Harold Jackson on a long one. One of the Wrights pushes Jackson out about the Viking two. You could just feel the momentum shift. The Rams were going to the Super Bowl.

But that’s when things got interesting.

The Vikes stand ‘em up on a play or two, but they get down to the six inch line. Harris goes with a long count, and HOF Alan Page jumps. Or does he? Out comes the flag, and In one of the crazier things I’ve seen, the Vikings talk the ref into ruling they were drawn off. 5 yards on the Rams. Passing situation.

On the next play, Harris’ bullet over the middle is tipped, and flutters into the arms of Wally Hilgenberg, rest his soul, in the endzone. Touchback. That precious momentum gone. A 98 yard drive, for nothing.

Tark leads the Vikes on a long drive, chewing the clock and scoring. The Rams tried again, but the fired-up D crushed ‘em. On to face the Steelers in Super Bowl IX. But that’s another story.

Good memory, DarkViking. I remember those follow up games too. This was before free agency didn’t interfere with the rosters from year to year so it was the basicly the same teams pounding it out again. I remember the pounding the Vikes put on the Chiefs the year after the Vikes 1st Super Bowl loss. So despite 4 losses, were those teams really head and tails above the Vikes. It seems not. It made you feel a little vindicated. Remembering Wally and Karl. It would have been nice had they gotten a ring with the rest of those heroes from yesteryears. Oh, that some mystery QB would fall down from the sky and lead us to a miraculous win streak and ultimate Super Bowl. or…Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow. Are you ready to to declare for the draft and become a Viking?