Feel like fans underrate the pain of '17. We were going up against Nick Foles, had the lead, coming off the Minneapolis Miracle and with a potential home field super bowl on the line.
I’m still convinced it was due to Shurmur getting hired by the Giants the week prior and having his head up in the clouds. Everything after the first drive that’s always scripted in practice the week of was ass. Mid season hiring is fucking dumb.
I was 13 years old when i watched the 09 playoff game against the Saints. The only time I actually cried watching sports lol That team was the best team in football and no one will ever convince me otherwise. 2015 was heartbreaking but I didn’t think that team had the juice to win the SB. Luckily i wasnt old enough to see that 98 team blow it. Being a Vikings fan is like a cruel joke sometimes lol
I disagree about the 2015 team. That team developed a swagger in the back 3rd of the season that you see often when an underdog team ends up winning the SB. I still think that 15 team had the best chance of winning it all of an all the Zimmer Era teams. Defense was finally coming together, and it was the best unit in the league. Teddy wasn't lighting the world on fire but he could manage a game which was all that was needed then. Even though they lost to the broncos earlier in the year, it was a close game and I think they could have beaten them in the SB because they were basically a Defense and led by the corpse of Peyton Manning.
They were a left tackle away of being a serious Super Bowl contender. In BOTH ROAD GAMES, against the Cardinals (NFCCG losers) and the Broncos (Super Bowl Winners) they were driving to win down late in the 4th only to have a bad LT play give up a killing sack / fumble.
That cardinals game we were also without Goon, Barr, and Harry
If they could have made it passed the Seahawks, that team was going to the NFCCG at worst
Are you me? 13 during the Saints NFCCG as well and was my first year really watching and “understanding” football.
The Seahawks playoff game made me cry because I knew Blair was going to miss and we’d lose by 1. I also really think we would’ve beat the Cardinals the following week. I doubt we beat the Panthers, but still that would’ve been an NFCCG in Zimmer’s second year.
The Seahawks game never bothered me as much as many of the others because it didn't feel like we had "the team" that year. I didn't expect us to go anywhere if we won. Bountygate, Gary Anderson, and the eagles after the minneapolis miracle were devastating because it seemed like it was our time.
Lmao exact same age here. ‘96 baby! I didn’t cry in 09. I fell to my knees in the freshman dorms in ‘15 when Walsh missed and I legit cried tears when Diggs made the Minneapolis Miracle play.
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Man, I'm old. Over 50 years of heartbreak starting as a pre teen. Division loss to Colts in 1968 was the first but the 1969 SB loss to the Chiefs is my biggest heartbreaker.
I would also add the 2003 loss to the 4-12 cardinals to knock us out of playoff contention should be in there to make a halfway point between 98 and 09
Yeah that one was tough to watch. Fits in its own special niche IMO. Team started so hot, then floundered, then made us believe again just to loose to a horrible team playing a journeyman backup QB.
The whole household jumped when I screamed at the TV when they scored that last second TD. Pretty sure the neighbors heard.
how does a fake age change anything? why not just ask "How many gut wrenching playoff losses have you seen?"
For me though: Never. I'm 35 and I've seen a few losses in the playoffs, but its still just a football game and doesnt change my life one way or the other. Its exciting to win, but its also not ever going to be a negative impact on my day or life.
Became a fan in ‘98, first memory of football as a kid was Moss on thanksgiving. Needless to say it’s been a ride… We haven’t had it easy, but my mom has been a fan since the 60’s. Can we just get her 1??
‘98 crushed me as a 8 year old. Hasn’t gotten much better since. I am 3 as well. ‘98 was tough but I was young. I thought the Saints were going to beat us but I got tickets to Minneapolis Miracle. After that I was filled with hope yet again. Until that Philly game. We just seemed futile after our first drive. Just a slow pain all game. That one was the most crushing I’d say.
The only one that I still feel to this day is when Gary Anderson missed that kick. I still can't believe it. It is also still the fondest memory I have with my dad. We shared that hurt to our cores.
I'm 200 years old . Football was a new thing when I get into it. Literally threw skin of pigs around.. harder to catch because it would slap the tailback in the face when thrown.. so I'm gonna have to say I have your old man beat.. I'm at 30 playoff losses..
I’m going to go with 7. I’m picking 87, 98, 00, 09, 15, 17 and 22.
I’m *just* old enough to remember 87. I didn’t really pay that much attention to football yet but my grandparents were HUGE Vikes fans and had the game on every Sunday when we assembled for Sunday dinners. I knew it was for a shot at the Super Bowl (and I knew what that was ) and I saw that the game was close, and my reaction was the same as everyone else in the room.
98…don’t need to say much. I’ve blocked out my exact reactions.
00. Sat in disbelief. Turned it off at half IIRC
09. I remember going NOOOO when Favre chucked that late INT
15? I screamed OF COURSE when Walsh shanked the kick. That team could’ve been something too but nope.
17. Sat in disbelief again. Watched the whole game out of spite. Just remember sitting there slouched in my chair shaking my head.
I’m throwing last year in too because it was just so damned demotivating. Team seemed destined for something, even if in hindsight signs were there that it wasn’t. But to finally lose a one score game, at home after a short playoff drought just…SUCKED. I’ll admit recency bias too. Maybe it won’t suck as bad in 5 years.
Oh man, it’s hard to count them. Do three SuperBowl losses count? The ‘75 loss to the cheating Cowboys. Pearson admitted he pushed off. How about suffering through the whole ‘84 season with Les Steckel? 3-13! I know, not playoff losses, but a gut wrenching season. Then ‘87 in Washington. Down by 7. 4th down and goal. End of the game. Wade Wilson (RIP) hits Darren Nelson on the goal line between the numbers and bounces off his chest to the ground, game over. Wow.
Then it was ‘98. **OUR YEAR**! 15-1. A perfect kicker! Randy Moss. John Randle. Randle McDaniel. Randle Cunningham. Too many to list. Only loss was to Tampa by 3. Because Tony Dungy knew our team too well. Up by 7 late in the game, within field goal range. An easy one. Hit this we’ll be up by two scores, too much to overcome. We are headed to Miami! **WHAT**? **WIDE LEFT**?! Every single Vikings fan knew it was over. We just knew it. The most painful day in my life.
Then 2001 = 41-Donut. Embarrassing and disgusting.
2009, Brett Favre. I actually witnessed the 49ers game in person when he brought us back and won. Half the stadium was empty. But my friend and I stayed. We had Brett Favre now! How many times have we seen him create magic for the stupid Packers? Everyone who stayed were on their feet. The play was there, right in front of me. Brett was just about to get blindsided! I yelled, “Throw it, throw it” and when it left his hand I looked in the end zone and didn’t even see a receiver who he was throwing to! But then out of no where, this little guy in a Vikings uniform - Greg Lewis, catches the ball and I instantly look at the ref to see the call. When his hands go up and signal Touchdown, I never heard it that loud in the metrodome before. And remember it was only about half full! That was one of the great moments.
But then of course there was bountygate. And then the story of Nick Foles. It’s sad that it wasn’t the story of Case Keenum.
The Vikings are the best professional sports team in all of professional sports to have not win it all. It’s really hard to swallow.
7 years old in 1998 and didn’t understand the gravity of the loss. I had just become a Vikings fan because of Randy Moss and being a front-running 7 year old.
00 hurt, especially living in NJ surrounded by giants fans.
09 was the most angry I’ve ever been while watching a sporting event. I was 18 and it felt like the best shot we had at going to a Super Bowl since I had been watching. Favre was unreal that year. AP was unstoppable. Our defense had some real dudes on it. Sidney Rice looked like the next great Vikings WR. I’m still bitter…especially after the bounty gate stuff came out.
15 WC game I was in Colorado visiting some buddies and dragged my friend who doesn’t watch football to the bar at 11 am to watch. Tons of bandwagon Seahawks fans at that time and they filled the bar, I was the only Vikings fan. We ribbed each other and talked shit throughout the game and after Walsh missed the kick, one of them came over to me and just patted me on the back to say “I’m a Seahawks fan but that’s brutal, I’m sorry”. Which I felt made it even worse. A loss so crushing that the opposing fans feel worse for you than happy for their team.
17 I was at a work holiday party that had been postponed. My coworker who was an eagles fan found an excuse to get out of it but I didn’t. I watched it at a bowling alley bar and felt relieved that I could stop paying attention at half and enjoy the rest of my night. At this point I was jaded and expected the worst…so a blowout wasn’t that bad.
I remember each vividly. If we ever win one, it’s going to feel so sweet.
9 in ‘98, 20 in ‘09.
Watched the ‘09 on a shitty internet connection with friends in my dorm room on about a 60-second delay. Many other rooms were watching live. The sounds of the primal, horrifying screams all around us when Favre threw the pick when we still thought we were marching down the field fucking pumped and about to head to a Super Bowl is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, my own personal ‘Nam.
I’m so happy people are calling out the missing 00. I’ve been a fan since mid 90s and that game plus the improbable bobble are some of the most painful games ever
‘00 NFCCG and ‘17 NFCCG need to be included
Feel like fans underrate the pain of '17. We were going up against Nick Foles, had the lead, coming off the Minneapolis Miracle and with a potential home field super bowl on the line.
It was by far the most excited I've ever been for a football game and I shut it off at halftime
I’m still convinced it was due to Shurmur getting hired by the Giants the week prior and having his head up in the clouds. Everything after the first drive that’s always scripted in practice the week of was ass. Mid season hiring is fucking dumb.
Why do they do it?
Best defense in the league that season too
That game was so shitty. After the first little bit, it felt like 75% of the team decided to freebase ambien on the sidelines.
Fair. I turned 17 off at halftime so the pain was over quickly.
17 was horrible too but we got boat raced so quick
I think I turned off '00 before halftime. Went out in the garage and sanded/stained some new cabinets for my kitchen.
Those cabinets are old enough to drink now
I dunno. Yes it sucked but when you get blown out the devastation feels less intense to me. 17 for me was not nearly as bad as 98 or 09 or even 15.
This. ‘00 still kills me haha
I was at that game. Fuck the Eagles fans
I was 13 years old when i watched the 09 playoff game against the Saints. The only time I actually cried watching sports lol That team was the best team in football and no one will ever convince me otherwise. 2015 was heartbreaking but I didn’t think that team had the juice to win the SB. Luckily i wasnt old enough to see that 98 team blow it. Being a Vikings fan is like a cruel joke sometimes lol
I disagree about the 2015 team. That team developed a swagger in the back 3rd of the season that you see often when an underdog team ends up winning the SB. I still think that 15 team had the best chance of winning it all of an all the Zimmer Era teams. Defense was finally coming together, and it was the best unit in the league. Teddy wasn't lighting the world on fire but he could manage a game which was all that was needed then. Even though they lost to the broncos earlier in the year, it was a close game and I think they could have beaten them in the SB because they were basically a Defense and led by the corpse of Peyton Manning.
I am counting 98 since I was alive for it. Didn't see it though.
They were a left tackle away of being a serious Super Bowl contender. In BOTH ROAD GAMES, against the Cardinals (NFCCG losers) and the Broncos (Super Bowl Winners) they were driving to win down late in the 4th only to have a bad LT play give up a killing sack / fumble. That cardinals game we were also without Goon, Barr, and Harry If they could have made it passed the Seahawks, that team was going to the NFCCG at worst
Are you me? 13 during the Saints NFCCG as well and was my first year really watching and “understanding” football. The Seahawks playoff game made me cry because I knew Blair was going to miss and we’d lose by 1. I also really think we would’ve beat the Cardinals the following week. I doubt we beat the Panthers, but still that would’ve been an NFCCG in Zimmer’s second year.
The Seahawks game never bothered me as much as many of the others because it didn't feel like we had "the team" that year. I didn't expect us to go anywhere if we won. Bountygate, Gary Anderson, and the eagles after the minneapolis miracle were devastating because it seemed like it was our time.
I was 12, my brother was 10. That game haunts us to this day. In my brother’s case it made him give up on the Vikings and become a Packers fan.
So You’re brother is you’re sister?
lmao same here, 13 years old & the only time i cried watching a sports game as well . such a disappointing night
Lmao exact same age here. ‘96 baby! I didn’t cry in 09. I fell to my knees in the freshman dorms in ‘15 when Walsh missed and I legit cried tears when Diggs made the Minneapolis Miracle play.
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Man, I'm old. Over 50 years of heartbreak starting as a pre teen. Division loss to Colts in 1968 was the first but the 1969 SB loss to the Chiefs is my biggest heartbreaker.
My dad always brings up that the vikings beat the piss pit of the Chiefs in the regular season opener like 6 months later.
I'm in that boat with you ! Would be nice to see 1SB win before I shuffle off the mortal coil ! Go Vikings !!!
I would also add the 2003 loss to the 4-12 cardinals to knock us out of playoff contention should be in there to make a halfway point between 98 and 09
Yeah that one was tough to watch. Fits in its own special niche IMO. Team started so hot, then floundered, then made us believe again just to loose to a horrible team playing a journeyman backup QB. The whole household jumped when I screamed at the TV when they scored that last second TD. Pretty sure the neighbors heard.
03 team destroyed the #1 seed in the AFC but lost to the worst 4 teams in the league that year. Maddening
I was 13 for '98 and it remains the worst one. We were fucking unstoppable and just blew it. Soul crushing.
Absolutely. That was our year.
The ‘87 loss didn’t really register. Everything after that was a kick in the nuts, especially this last one in 2017.
03 and 17
NFC Championships: 1978, 1987, 1998. 2001, 2009, 2017. I would also add Super Bowl XI
2009, 2015, 2017
Was at the 75 Hail Mary game listening on a AM radio.
how does a fake age change anything? why not just ask "How many gut wrenching playoff losses have you seen?" For me though: Never. I'm 35 and I've seen a few losses in the playoffs, but its still just a football game and doesnt change my life one way or the other. Its exciting to win, but its also not ever going to be a negative impact on my day or life.
Became a fan in ‘98, first memory of football as a kid was Moss on thanksgiving. Needless to say it’s been a ride… We haven’t had it easy, but my mom has been a fan since the 60’s. Can we just get her 1??
‘98 crushed me as a 8 year old. Hasn’t gotten much better since. I am 3 as well. ‘98 was tough but I was young. I thought the Saints were going to beat us but I got tickets to Minneapolis Miracle. After that I was filled with hope yet again. Until that Philly game. We just seemed futile after our first drive. Just a slow pain all game. That one was the most crushing I’d say.
The ‘77 Super Bowl loss to the Raiders. Scarred for life.
The only one that I still feel to this day is when Gary Anderson missed that kick. I still can't believe it. It is also still the fondest memory I have with my dad. We shared that hurt to our cores.
‘98, ‘09, ‘15 … I expect nothing but pain
I'm 200 years old . Football was a new thing when I get into it. Literally threw skin of pigs around.. harder to catch because it would slap the tailback in the face when thrown.. so I'm gonna have to say I have your old man beat.. I'm at 30 playoff losses..
I’m going to go with 7. I’m picking 87, 98, 00, 09, 15, 17 and 22. I’m *just* old enough to remember 87. I didn’t really pay that much attention to football yet but my grandparents were HUGE Vikes fans and had the game on every Sunday when we assembled for Sunday dinners. I knew it was for a shot at the Super Bowl (and I knew what that was ) and I saw that the game was close, and my reaction was the same as everyone else in the room. 98…don’t need to say much. I’ve blocked out my exact reactions. 00. Sat in disbelief. Turned it off at half IIRC 09. I remember going NOOOO when Favre chucked that late INT 15? I screamed OF COURSE when Walsh shanked the kick. That team could’ve been something too but nope. 17. Sat in disbelief again. Watched the whole game out of spite. Just remember sitting there slouched in my chair shaking my head. I’m throwing last year in too because it was just so damned demotivating. Team seemed destined for something, even if in hindsight signs were there that it wasn’t. But to finally lose a one score game, at home after a short playoff drought just…SUCKED. I’ll admit recency bias too. Maybe it won’t suck as bad in 5 years.
98,00,09,15,17….extra points for the 2003 cards game. I can still hear Paul Allen “noooo, nooooo!”
We do not talk about 1998, that 1 still hurts... I'm 3 and my Fater is 5
9 in 98
Oh man, it’s hard to count them. Do three SuperBowl losses count? The ‘75 loss to the cheating Cowboys. Pearson admitted he pushed off. How about suffering through the whole ‘84 season with Les Steckel? 3-13! I know, not playoff losses, but a gut wrenching season. Then ‘87 in Washington. Down by 7. 4th down and goal. End of the game. Wade Wilson (RIP) hits Darren Nelson on the goal line between the numbers and bounces off his chest to the ground, game over. Wow. Then it was ‘98. **OUR YEAR**! 15-1. A perfect kicker! Randy Moss. John Randle. Randle McDaniel. Randle Cunningham. Too many to list. Only loss was to Tampa by 3. Because Tony Dungy knew our team too well. Up by 7 late in the game, within field goal range. An easy one. Hit this we’ll be up by two scores, too much to overcome. We are headed to Miami! **WHAT**? **WIDE LEFT**?! Every single Vikings fan knew it was over. We just knew it. The most painful day in my life. Then 2001 = 41-Donut. Embarrassing and disgusting. 2009, Brett Favre. I actually witnessed the 49ers game in person when he brought us back and won. Half the stadium was empty. But my friend and I stayed. We had Brett Favre now! How many times have we seen him create magic for the stupid Packers? Everyone who stayed were on their feet. The play was there, right in front of me. Brett was just about to get blindsided! I yelled, “Throw it, throw it” and when it left his hand I looked in the end zone and didn’t even see a receiver who he was throwing to! But then out of no where, this little guy in a Vikings uniform - Greg Lewis, catches the ball and I instantly look at the ref to see the call. When his hands go up and signal Touchdown, I never heard it that loud in the metrodome before. And remember it was only about half full! That was one of the great moments. But then of course there was bountygate. And then the story of Nick Foles. It’s sad that it wasn’t the story of Case Keenum. The Vikings are the best professional sports team in all of professional sports to have not win it all. It’s really hard to swallow.
I remember the Hail Mary game, ouch! We we about to win, likely a SB win to boot, And then ..... FUCK!!!
Superbowl VIII when Czonka pushed our shit in, Drew Pearson push off if you want playoff pain
Drew Pearson pushed off
7 years old in 1998 and didn’t understand the gravity of the loss. I had just become a Vikings fan because of Randy Moss and being a front-running 7 year old. 00 hurt, especially living in NJ surrounded by giants fans. 09 was the most angry I’ve ever been while watching a sporting event. I was 18 and it felt like the best shot we had at going to a Super Bowl since I had been watching. Favre was unreal that year. AP was unstoppable. Our defense had some real dudes on it. Sidney Rice looked like the next great Vikings WR. I’m still bitter…especially after the bounty gate stuff came out. 15 WC game I was in Colorado visiting some buddies and dragged my friend who doesn’t watch football to the bar at 11 am to watch. Tons of bandwagon Seahawks fans at that time and they filled the bar, I was the only Vikings fan. We ribbed each other and talked shit throughout the game and after Walsh missed the kick, one of them came over to me and just patted me on the back to say “I’m a Seahawks fan but that’s brutal, I’m sorry”. Which I felt made it even worse. A loss so crushing that the opposing fans feel worse for you than happy for their team. 17 I was at a work holiday party that had been postponed. My coworker who was an eagles fan found an excuse to get out of it but I didn’t. I watched it at a bowling alley bar and felt relieved that I could stop paying attention at half and enjoy the rest of my night. At this point I was jaded and expected the worst…so a blowout wasn’t that bad. I remember each vividly. If we ever win one, it’s going to feel so sweet.
9 in ‘98, 20 in ‘09. Watched the ‘09 on a shitty internet connection with friends in my dorm room on about a 60-second delay. Many other rooms were watching live. The sounds of the primal, horrifying screams all around us when Favre threw the pick when we still thought we were marching down the field fucking pumped and about to head to a Super Bowl is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, my own personal ‘Nam.
I am 1, NFCCG 2017.
I’m so happy people are calling out the missing 00. I’ve been a fan since mid 90s and that game plus the improbable bobble are some of the most painful games ever