If you’re a Vikings fan, you already know. You don’t need a history lesson to feel that familiar, sinking pit in your stomach when someone mentions the words "conference title." It’s a specific kind of scar tissue. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Minnesota Vikings have made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl nine times. They’ve won some. They’ve lost more. But the way they lose? That’s what sticks. It’s never just a blowout. It’s a missed kick, a questionable penalty, or a 12th man in the huddle when the game is literally on the line.
Minnesota Vikings NFC Championship games aren't just football matches; they are cultural milestones in the state of Minnesota. They define generations. Ask a Boomer about 1977. Ask a Gen X-er about 1987 or 1998. Ask a Millennial about 2009. We all have our "where were you" moment, and usually, it involves staring at a television in stunned silence while a kicker walks off the field or a quarterback throws across his body into traffic.
The Early Dominance and the Forgotten Glory
People forget the Vikings actually used to win these things. Frequently.
In the 1970s, the Purple People Eaters were a juggernaut. Bud Grant, with his stoic face and refusal to allow heaters on the sidelines, led the team to three NFC Championship victories in four years (1973, 1974, and 1976). This was the era of Fran Tarkenton scrambling for his life and Alan Page terrorizing quarterbacks.
In 1973, they went into Texas Stadium and dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 27-10. It wasn't even close. The next year, they squeezed past the Los Angeles Rams 14-10 at Metropolitan Stadium. Then came 1976, the last time the Vikings actually won an NFC Championship. They beat the Rams again, 24-13. Bobby Bryant returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for a touchdown. It was glorious. It was cold. It felt like the natural order of things.
Then the lights went out.
1987: The "What If" in Washington
Nobody expected the 1987 Vikings to be there. They were 8-7 in a strike-shortened season. They were the underdogs who shouldn't have been in the building. But they went on a tear, destroying the Saints and then upsetting a legendary 49ers team.
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The NFC Championship game against the Washington Redskins was a gritty, ugly affair. The Vikings trailed 17-10 late in the fourth quarter. Wade Wilson led them down the field. They were at the 6-yard line. Fourth down. Wilson threw a pass to Darrin Nelson. It hit him right in the hands. He dropped it.
Game over.
It was a sign of things to come. The Vikings were good enough to get there, but the "finish" was becoming an elusive ghost.
1998: The Kick Heard ‘Round the World
Let’s talk about the big one. If you want to understand the modern psyche of a Vikings fan, you have to look at January 17, 1999. The 1998 Vikings were arguably the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. They went 15-1. Randy Moss was a rookie sensation changing the geometry of the sport. Gary Anderson, the kicker, had been perfect. He literally hadn't missed a field goal or an extra point all year. Not one.
The Vikings were leading the Atlanta Falcons 27-20 with just over two minutes left. They had a chance to ice it. A 38-yard field goal. Basically a layup for Anderson.
He missed. Left.
The Metrodome went silent. You could hear a pin drop in a stadium that usually registered on seismographs. The Falcons scored, took it to overtime, and Morten Andersen—the other kicker—nailed his attempt.
The 1998 NFC Championship remains the ultimate "glitch in the matrix" for Minnesota sports. It defied logic. Statistics say Anderson should have made that kick 99% of the time. He didn't. That loss didn't just end a season; it broke a franchise's confidence for a decade.
2009: Bounties and Cross-Body Throws
If 1998 was a tragedy, 2009 was a heist. Brett Favre, the long-time nemesis from Green Bay, was suddenly the hero in purple. He was playing the best football of his career at age 40. The Vikings went into New Orleans to face the Saints in a game that would later become infamous for "Bountygate."
Favre took a beating. He was hit high, hit low, and hit late. The Vikings outgained the Saints by 218 yards. They had 31 first downs to the Saints' 15. But they kept fumbling. Peterson fumbled. Berrian fumbled. Harvin fumbled.
Still, with seconds left, they were in field goal range. Then came the penalty. 12 men in the huddle. They backed up. Favre tried to make a play, rolled right, threw back across the middle—an unforgivable sin for a quarterback—and Tracy Porter intercepted it.
The Saints won in overtime. Years later, NFL investigations revealed the Saints had a bounty program targeting Favre. It didn't change the score. It just added a layer of resentment to the heartbreak.
2017: The Linc and the Letdown
The most recent trip to the NFC Championship was in 2017. This one felt different because it came on the heels of the "Minneapolis Miracle." Stefon Diggs had just scored the most improbable touchdown in playoff history to beat the Saints. The Vikings were heading to Philadelphia to face a backup quarterback in Nick Foles.
The Vikings scored first. 7-0. "We’re going home for the Super Bowl," everyone thought, since Super Bowl LII was being held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Then the wheels fell off. Case Keenum threw a pick-six to Patrick Robinson. The defense, which had been the best in the league all year, evaporated. The Eagles scored 38 unanswered points. It wasn't a heartbreaking miss or a last-second turnover. It was a 38-7 demolition. It was a reminder that sometimes, the football gods don't just want to break your heart; they want to embarrass you.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Is it a curse? Some fans point to the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, which the Vikings allegedly lost after their 1969 NFL Championship win. Others point to the "Purple Pain" luck factor.
In reality, NFC Championship games are high-variance events. The Vikings have often run into "Teams of Destiny." In 1998, it was the Falcons' charmed run. In 2009, it was the post-Katrina Saints. In 2017, it was the "Underdog" Eagles.
But there’s also a tactical element. In many of these games, the Vikings played "not to lose" once they had a lead. In 1998, they stopped being aggressive with the most explosive offense in history. In 2009, the ball security issues were a result of a team playing tight.
The Statistical Reality of the NFC Championship
If you look at the numbers, the Vikings are actually one of the most successful franchises in NFL history—if you stop the clock at the conference championship. They have the seventh-highest winning percentage in NFL history. They’ve made the playoffs 31 times.
The problem is the "conversion rate."
| Era | NFC Championship Record | Resulting Super Bowl Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| 1970-1979 | 4-2 | lost 4 Super Bowls |
| 1980-1999 | 0-2 | N/A |
| 2000-Present | 0-3 | N/A |
They haven't won a conference title game since the Carter administration. Think about that. There are adults with mortgages and gray hair who have never seen the Vikings win an NFC Championship.
How to Handle Future Runs
If you're a fan—or just a bettor looking at the NFC North—you have to approach the Minnesota Vikings and their playoff runs with a certain level of emotional detachment. Honestly, it's the only way to survive.
The team's identity is currently in flux. With a high-powered offense featuring Justin Jefferson and a defensive scheme that favors aggression, the Vikings are always a threat to get back to the big game. But history suggests that the NFC Championship is their Great Wall.
Actionable Insights for the Next Run:
- Don't ignore the turnover margin. In almost every NFC Championship loss, the Vikings lost the turnover battle, often in their own territory.
- Watch the "Kicker Factor." The Vikings' history with specialist trauma is real. If the game comes down to a kick, the pressure isn't just on the player; it's on the entire stadium's collective psyche.
- Home Field isn't a Guarantee. They lost at home in 1998. They lost on the road in 2009 and 2017. The venue matters less than the momentum.
- Embrace the "Underdog" Role. The Vikings' best performances in the playoffs often come when nobody expects them to win (like the 1987 run or the 2019 upset in New Orleans). When they are the favorites, they tend to play with a weight on their shoulders.
The Minnesota Vikings NFC Championship games are a masterclass in the highs and lows of professional sports. They represent the peak of hope and the valley of despair. One day, the kick will go through. The pass won't be intercepted. The 12th man will stay on the sideline. Until then, the fans will keep showing up, wearing purple, and waiting for the moment the cycle finally breaks.
To prep for the next season, start tracking the Vikings' performance in "one-score games" during the regular season. This has historically been the best indicator of how they will handle the pressure of an NFC Championship environment. Teams that win close games in October are often the ones who can handle the "Anderson" or "Favre" moments in January.