2009 Minnesota Vikings

Driven by a particularly strong defense, the Minnesota Vikings had a pretty good 2008-09 season, winning the NFC North, though their first round loss in the playoffs emphasized their need to strengthen their offense. In an effort to do just that, they set their sights on quarterback Brett Favre, who hemmed and hawed through mid-August, but finally signed a 2-year deal with the team on August 18th. With Favre at the helm and arguably the best running back in the league today in Adrian Peterson, plus a defense so impressive they’ve been called the “Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse”, the Vikings have a real shot at the Super Bowl in the 2009-2010 season. Sure, watching The Vikes on TV is fun, but can you really compare it to the thrill of seeing your beloved team crush their opponents right in front of you? See it all for yourself with tickets to HHH Metrodome and cheer on the Minnesota Vikings to victory!

Some Minnesota Vikings history: The Vikings joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1961 and selected Fran Tarkenton in the NFL draft. The franchise got off to a slow start, producing only one winning record in its first seven seasons. In 1967 Minnesota traded Tarkenton to the New York Giants.

In the 1968 season Bud Grant guided the Vikings to the NFC Central Division championship. A year later, Minnesota's 'Purple People Eaters,' the league's toughest defense, powered the Vikings to Super Bowl IV, where the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7. The Vikings' offensive performance in 1969 was also the league's best, led by QB Joe Kapp.

In the 1970s, Minnesota dominated the NFC Central Division, and in 1971 Alan Page became the first defensive player to receive the most valuable player (MVP) award. Fran Tarkenton returned to the Vikings in 1972 and subsequently piloted the team to three Super Bowl appearances. Running back Chuck Foreman and wide receivers John Gilliam and Ahmad Rashad were his favorite targets. An elusive scrambler, Tarkenton also used his agility to confound opponents. He was named league MVP in 1975.

Although they were clearly the NFC's dominant club, the Vikings repeatedly fell to their American Football Conference (AFC) opponents in the Super Bowl. Minnesota lost to the Miami Dolphins 24-7 in 1974, to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6 in 1975, and to the Oakland Raiders 32-14 in 1977.

Many of the star Viking players retired by 1979, and the team entered a period of decline, but Minnesota soon recovered its success with a collection of new stars. From the mid-1980s through the late 1990s, the Vikings consistently recorded winning records, and the club reached the NFC Championship Game after the 1987 and 1998 seasons. Stars for the Vikings during this time included quarterbacks Tommy Kramer, Warren Moon, and Wade Wilson, and wide receiver Anthony Carter, who produced three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Safety Joey Browner and linemen Chris Doleman, Keith Millard, and John Randle were among the league's premier defensive players.