Back to The Future?

My first memorable encounter with the Minnesota Vikings came during the entire 1998 season. The Vikings were good. I don't need to tell you everything about it, but they had a lot of talented playmakers such as Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Randall Cunningham. It seemed like the Vikings were destined to go to the Super Bowl and then came the Atlanta Falcons. We all know what happened from there.

What's crazy about that season is that as Viking fans look towards the NFC Championship game next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, it's interesting to see the similarities between the 2009 season and the 1998 season. Consider the following.

In 1998, there were two teams that seemed to be destined to go to the Super Bowl which was played in Miami. Those two teams were the Denver Broncos and the Vikings. However in the NFC, there was a 14-2 Atlanta Falcons team that received little respect from the national media because of how good those two teams were. The Falcons would be the team to throw the monkey wrench in the supposed track of destiny.

In 2009, there are two teams that seemed destined for the Super Bowl which is being played in Miami. Those teams are the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. However, in the NFC there is a team who has gotten more media coverage than the '98 Falcons did, but because of how good those two teams are. So could the Vikings be the 2009 version of the '98 Falcons?

The '98 Falcons had a veteran quarterback that was in the middle of a throwback year. Chris Chandler had some bad seasons, but he probably had his best season in 1998. The '09 Vikings have a veteran quarterback who is having a throwback year of his own, and he probably is having his best season in 2009.

The '98 Falcons had to go on the road in the NFC Championship in a venue where the opponents have had a difficult time of even coming close to winning. In '09 the Vikings will go on the road to play in the NFC Championship in a venue which is being billed as the loudest in the NFL. (NOTE: The '98 Vikings were 9-0 at home. The '09 Saints are 7-2.)

When you look at the details, the other teams involved in the playoffs have similar characteristics.

In 1998, the Denver Broncos were looking to win their 2nd Super Bowl victory in franchise history. They were lead by a Hall Of Fame quarterback in John Elway. In 2009, the Indianapolis Colts are looking for their 2nd Super Bowl victory in franchise history. They are lead by future Hall Of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

In 1998, the Denver Broncos hosted the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game. In 2009, the Indianapolis Colts will host the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game. The Jets will be making their first AFC Championship appearance since...you guessed it...1998.

Finally, the '98 Minnesota Vikings had a defense that would give up points from time to time, but they relied on turnovers. The defensive leader was a cornerback by the name of Jimmy Hitchcock. Hitchcock would have 8 interceptions that he would get mostly by jumping routes. In the '98 NFC Championship game, Hitchcock tried to jump a route late in the game. Had he gotten the interception, the game would have been over. Instead, Chandler pump faked and found a wide open receiver in the back of the endzone to tie the game, and the Falcons eventually won in overtime.

The '09 Saints have a defense that gives up points from time to time, but they rely on turnovers. The defensive leader is a safety by the name of Darren Sharper. Sharper has 9 interceptions that he gets by mostly jumping routes. As for the future...who knows?

Just looking back at the one year that is still the thorn in the Vikings side, it's pretty eerie to see all of the similarities. If the Vikings could pull off an upset in the Superdome, it would get even weirder.