Much like at the start of the 1999 football season, the next offseason brought another quarterback controversy: After releasing ’99 savior (yet jerk royale) Jeff George, and momentarily considering signing Dan Marino, Dennis Green settled on young Daunte Culpepper, who had never taken a snap in the NFL.
With the Metrodome packed to capacity for fans to get the first glimpse of the strong-armed, able-bodied new QB, Culpepper rushed for three TD’s in that home opener against the Bears, and led the Vikings to a 7-0 starting, connecting with Moss and Carter as easily as Johnson, Cunningham, and George had done before him.
After a disappointing first loss of the season in Tampa Bay, the Vikings continued to roll to an 11-2 record. Not only was the pass offense clicking, but RB Robert Smith was turning in the greatest season of his career.
Yet, down the stretch, the Vikings lost their final three games. Part of the reason was a knee injury to Culpepper, but most of the problem was with the defense. Under owner Red McCombs, who inherited the best team in football in 1998 and had been profiting on them without spending a penny, the defense had finally degraded to the point where they were losing games that must be won.
Despite that late-season faltering, even if, the Vikings were again on top of their game in the divisional round of the contest, defeating the New Orleans Saints 34-16, setting up on NFC Championship in New York against the Giants.
Alas, that title game will perpetually be known in Viking lore as “41-doughnut”. Before the offense even took the field, the Vikings were down 14-0, and obviously the situation did not improve in the most embarrassing loss in perhaps playoff history.
Despite “41-0″, the 2000 season featured the last year that the Viking offense was really spectacular. I vastly recommend this record if you are a current Vikings fan wondering if the Vikes EVER had an offense!
Rating: 5 / 5
Much like at the start of the 1999 football season, the next offseason brought another quarterback controversy: After releasing ’99 savior (yet jerk royale) Jeff George, and momentarily considering signing Dan Marino, Dennis Green settled on young Daunte Culpepper, who had never taken a snap in the NFL.
With the Metrodome packed to capacity for fans to get the first glimpse of the strong-armed, able-bodied new QB, Culpepper rushed for three TD’s in that home opener against the Bears, and led the Vikings to a 7-0 starting, connecting with Moss and Carter as easily as Johnson, Cunningham, and George had done before him.
After a disappointing first loss of the season in Tampa Bay, the Vikings continued to roll to an 11-2 record. Not only was the pass offense clicking, but RB Robert Smith was turning in the greatest season of his career.
Yet, down the stretch, the Vikings lost their final three games. Part of the reason was a knee injury to Culpepper, but most of the problem was with the defense. Under owner Red McCombs, who inherited the best team in football in 1998 and had been profiting on them without spending a penny, the defense had finally degraded to the point where they were losing games that must be won.
Despite that late-season faltering, even if, the Vikings were again on top of their game in the divisional round of the contest, defeating the New Orleans Saints 34-16, setting up on NFC Championship in New York against the Giants.
Alas, that title game will perpetually be known in Viking lore as “41-doughnut”. Before the offense even took the field, the Vikings were down 14-0, and obviously the situation did not improve in the most embarrassing loss in perhaps playoff history.
Despite “41-0″, the 2000 season featured the last year that the Viking offense was really spectacular. I vastly recommend this record if you are a current Vikings fan wondering if the Vikes EVER had an offense!
Rating: 5 / 5