For Vikings fans, the team’s playoff history has been filled with heartbreak.
Gary Anderson’s missed kick against the Falcons in the ’98 season, the 12th man in the huddle and Favre pick against the Saints in 2009, Blair Walsh’s left hook against the Seahawks two years ago.
And that’s only going back 20 years, well after the four disappointing Super Bowl losses.
In 2017, having secured the NFC North and heading into the playoffs with a real chance of a first-round bye, the Vikings are in contention to play in the Super Bowl on home turf.
It’s leading to the most dangerous feeling a Vikings fan can experience: hope.
“Hope will drive a man insane,” Morgan Freeman said in The Shawshank Redemption, something followers of the purple know all too well.
So right now, as a favor to the most superstitious of fans, we want you to repeat the following: The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.
It doesn’t matter if the Vikings are 20 points up in the 4th quarter and the opposing team has JaMarcus Russell at quarterback: The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.
Here’s a guide for how to respond should any so-called “fans” make any of the following statements over the coming weeks:
– But the Vikings defense could be the best in the NFL!
You respond: “The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.”
– Case Keenum is playing the best football of his career and is a possible MVP candidate!
You respond: “The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.”
– Adam Thielen is tearing it up, and with Stefon Diggs we have arguably one of the best receiver 1-2s in the league!
You respond: “The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.”
– But Mike Zimmer keeps taking this team from strength to strength!
You respond: “The Vikings will not win the Super Bowl.”
– But it’s at U.S. Bank Stadium, how could we lose?!
You respond: “Because you’ve said that, the Vikings won’t even reach the Super Bowl. Good job.”
– But Carson Wentz is injured!
You respond: “Damnit! Now we’re not going to even reach the NFC Championship Game, you proud of yourself?”
– But we’ve beaten all but one of the Wild Card teams and should have beaten Carolina!
You respond: “What is wrong with you? Now we’re not going to even get a first-round bye, just shut up!”
Say those words and you’ve played your role in avoiding placing a j-word on the Vikings (we’re not going to say it).
Either that, or you’re now completely devoid of hope, so go ahead and enjoy the rest of the NFL season knowing that absolutely nothing is going to come of it.
