Minnesota Vikings 2024 squad is starting to resemble their legendary 1998 team
The Minnesota Vikings are 4-0 for the first time since 2016 and have been excellent in their path to an undefeated start. The defense is among the best, if not the best in the league and they have a quarterback in Sam Darnold who is lighting in up to the tune of a National Football […]
The Minnesota Vikings are 4-0 for the first time since 2016 and have been excellent in their path to an undefeated start. The defense is among the best, if not the best in the league and they have a quarterback in Sam Darnold who is lighting in up to the tune of a National Football League high 11 touchdowns.
It's been a common theme for the Vikings to have a great season seemingly out of nowhere. In fact, you could argue it's their calling card. That season has happened multiple times in my 34 years of life and seems to be reincarnating itself once again.
2024 Vikings have shades of legendary 1998 team
When a great start happens, there is a tendency to look back at past teams for comparison examples. Mike Sando of The Athletic took a look at some potential comps for the Vikings and one of the ones he came across was the 1998 Vikings.
After a 4-0 start, that 1998 team, which had a preseason win total of 8.5, also had a 57 point differential. The 2003 Vikings were also on that list with a point differential of +54, but they finished 9-7 after a 6-0 start and were derailed for a playoff berth by Nate Poole.
This isn't where the comparisons end though. The Vikings also have a kicker that hasn't missed a kick. Gary Anderson was the kicker in 1998 and made all 94 kicks with 59 made extra points and 35 made field goals. So far this season, rookie kicker Will Reichard has also been perfect, having made his first 20 kicks with six field goals and 14 extra points.
The last comparison might be the biggest link: journeyman quarterbacks. Randall Cunningham spend nearly his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles before Dennis Green signed him to be the backup to Brad Johnson in 1997. When Johnson hurt his leg in week two of the 1998 season, Cunningham stepped in and led the Vikings to a then NFL record 556 points and was inches away from a berth in the Super Bowl.
This season, Darnold is that guy. He's having his own renaissance season for the purple and gold. Could he be the first quarterback to lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl since Fran Tarkenton? Well, it's not out of the question
Minnesota Vikings lead the league in impressive category by a significant amount
The Vikings haven’t just been good, they’ve been dominant
