Number Fun

I've always had a sometimes odd affinity for numbers and letters. More specifically the patterns that can be found in these figures. As an example, I noticed that the last NFL Championship game in the lives of influential commissioners Joe Carr and Bert Bell had final scores of 23-17. The New York Giants were involved in both, winning one. Carr and Bell are the only commissioners to die in office and 23 is a fairly uncommon point total. This is a pretty incredible occurrence. I may be the only person to think that this is the least bit interesting.

The real intent of this Flea Flicker is another bit of number fun that probably intrigues only me. It is a fascinating pattern that I found in Minnesota Vikings success. Maybe failure rather than success. It depends upon your perspective. Starting with the 1976 season, which culminated in the Vikings last Super Bowl appearance, the outstanding team from Minnesota has had tremendous success every 11 years. They've had some decent seasons in between, but 1976, 1987, 1998 and 2009 were particularly successful seasons. Now, any season that ends short of a Super Bowl win actually ends short of desired success. As a Vikings fan, I have had to adjust my view of success. That will change. The Minnesota Vikings will win a Super Bowl, and they won't stop at just one. It's why all Vikings fans wake up each day. The 11 year pattern goes something like this:

1976: Super Bowl XI was the Vikings last. In those days, Minnesota seemed to make the final game every year. The Raiders sadly dominated. Especially with their offensive line. Fred Biletnikoff was MVP, but it should have been Art Shell and/or Gene Upshaw.

1987: The season was marred by a midseason strike. The Vikings excelled in the playoffs with an awesome defense and receiver Anthony Carter going ballistic. A failed 4th down attempt inside the 10 at the end of the NFC Championship game sent the Redskins to the Super Bowl. Considering the beat down that the Redskins threw at the Broncos, it's easy to imagine the Vikings doing the same. There may have been better Viking teams than the '87 version, but this one may have put up the best stretch of playoff games in the team's history.

1998: The Vikings had one of the best offenses in NFL history. They had a very suspect defense. The offense got on top of opponents so fast that the defense could just sit back and feast on mistakes. Kicker Gary Anderson missed ZERO kicks all year. His missed field goal late in the NFC Championship game led to overtime and the Falcons going to the Super Bowl. This offense was so dominant that nearly everyone had given the Vikings the Lombardi Trophy before the playoffs started.

2009: In my opinion, this was the best Vikings team since the '70s. Terrific balance on offense, defense and special teams. Stupid mistakes at the end of regulation in the NFC Championship game led to overtime and the Saints going to the Super Bowl. Sounds familiar. The Vikings had this game. They held the Saints potent offense to 257 yards while gaining over 450 themselves.

It's awesome to see the Vikings play outstanding football through the regular season. All smiles for 17 weeks. It would be nice to one day see that success continue through the playoffs. It can and will happen soon. I dearly hope that the 11 year pattern is shattered. I don't want to have to wait until 2020, but if I must I will. I hope to see it end with a win.