It's hard to believe that it's been 38 years since the Minnesota Vikings last played in a Super Bowl. In those days the Vikings and Dallas Cowboys were on rotation as the NFC participant in the big game. Except for a surprise Washington Redskins appearance in Super Bowl VII, the Vikings or Cowboys represented the NFL/NFC in every Super Bowl from IV-XIII. In that ten year stretch of big games the Vikings made it to four. Including three in four years. Super Bowls VIII, IX, and XI. They lost them all but they would always be back. The next time would be the win. There hasn't been a next time since their 32-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI.
January 9, 1977. That day started great. The Minnesota Vikings were in the Super Bowl. Oakland Raiders. Pasadena. The Rose Bowl. The game started great. The Oakland Raiders started with a drive that ended with Errol Mann doinking a short field goal off of the upright. An exchange of punts resulted in Vikings linebacker Fred McNeil blocking a Ray Guy punt. It was the first blocked punt of the Hall of Fame punter's NFL career. McNeil recovered the loose ball on the Raiders 3-yard line. The Vikings had never led in any of their three previous Super Bowl appearances. They had a fine chance to do so. They didn't. Two plays later running back Brent McClanahan fumbled and Raiders linebacker Willie Hall recovered. The Raiders were on their way and the Vikings never really threatened the rest of the day. 16-0 at the half. 32-14 final. 38 years later many fans still wonder what might have been if the Vikings had taken advantage of the opportunity that blocked punt provided.
That day is still so vivid. The sunny day. The Vikings in purple. The Raiders in white. It could have happened yesterday. The 1976 Vikings lineup is as clear as the Vikings team that played this past season.
R Sammie White
T Ron Yary
G Ed White
C Mick Tingelhoff
G Charles Goodrum
T Steve Riley
TE Stu Voigt
R Ahmad Rashad
QB Fran Tarkenton
RB Chuck Foreman
K Fred Cox
DE Carl Eller
DT Alan Page
DT Doug Sutherland
DE Jim Marshall
LB Matt Blair
LB Jeff Siemon
LB Wally Hilgenberg
CB Nate Wright
CB Bobby Bryant
S Paul Krause
S Jeff Wright
P Neil Clabo
38 years ago the Minnesota Vikings were an annual Super Bowl contender. Three times in four years. They were nearly an annual Super Bowl participant. Since that 1976 season the Vikings have made a serious Super Bowl charge every 11 years. In 1987 they were a fistful of yards from a touchdown that would have forced overtime against the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship game. In 1998 they were everyone's Super Bowl favorite but lost to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in the NFC Championship. In 2009 they dominated the New Orleans Saints for four quarters despite turning the ball over four times. They blew a chance to win in regulation only to lose the NFC Championship in overtime without ever seeing the ball. On their current schedule they should threaten to return to the Super Bowl in 2020. The hope here is that they break the 11-year trend and return to the Super Bowl ahead of schedule. This time they win.
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