When it comes to offensive firepower in Minnesota, the first thing that comes to mind is the 1998 Vikings.
That team blew the doors off of everybody en route to a 15-1 regular season, highlighted by one of the best wide receiver duos in NFL history: Cris Carter and Randy Moss.
Believe it or not, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs have put up similar numbers to what Moss and Carter had through nine games in ’98.
1998 Moss and Carter in first 9 games
- Moss: 32 catches, 599 yards, 6 TD
- Carter: 42 catches, 571 yards, 7 TD
- Combined: 74 catches, 1,170 yards, 13 TD
2017 Thielen and Diggs in first 9 games
- Thielen: 56 catches, 793 yards, 2 TD
- Diggs: 31 catches, 500 yards, 5 TD
- Combined: 87 catches, 1,293 yards, 7 TD
Moss and Carter were superior with 13 combined touchdowns but Thielen and Diggs have outpaced them in catches and yards, despite Diggs missing two games with a groin injury.
Moss and Carter might’ve been even more dominant had Jake Reed not eaten up 29 catches for 400+ yards and 4 touchdowns through the first nine games. Reed got hurt after Week 11, which is about the time Moss went bonkers with an additional 37 catches for 714 yards and an eye-popping 11 touchdowns.
Carter played just six more games that season and added 36 grabs for 440 yards and 5 scores.
It would take a Moss-like run and then some for Thielen and Diggs to equal Moss and Carter’s combined 29 touchdowns, but they can definitely keep up or combine for more receptions and yards.
