Juggernaut … for naught: Vikings fans still haunted by memories of 1998 season's finish

Vikings owner Mark Wilf said he has heard from excited fans, but he also is well aware of the history.
“Listen, it’s a tough business to win,” Wilf said. “But we think with the coaching staff and the team we’ve put together, we’re looking forward to continuing this march.”
Billick said the collective emotions of the Vikings fan base are something players and coaches will need to be aware of as the playoffs approach.
“You can’t live there and not have that sense. The pressure and emotion of having the chance to win the Super Bowl will be strong,” Billick said. “I would be conscious of that for my players so they don’t get emotionally worn out.”
That said, Billick said he “loves” this year’s Vikings team and “likes their chances” of reaching the Super Bowl. He praised their balance on offense and defense, noting the Vikings can win in a variety of different ways.
Billick said this year’s Steelers remind him the most of the 1998 Vikings, given all their offensive talent. But as we all know, it’s not always the most explosive team that wins.
This year’s Vikings don’t really resemble that 1998 squad, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be comparisons. It’s mentioned to Randle that talk of the 1998 team will only intensify given the success of this year’s team, the potential to play Atlanta again in the NFC Championship Game and the fact that the Super Bowl is here. Is that OK with him?
“I’m never OK with that because still, for me, 1998 was one of the hardest seasons ever,” Randle said. “But you know what, this is 2017 and I believe and hope this is going to be the year that suddenly we make history.”

Look, 98 and 09 left some big gaping wounds. Especially 98 and for me 77 too. But you eventually have to move on. What a wasted moment in time if those losses don't allow you to enjoy 13/3 season. 

Anyways, here's to hope (insert clink glass emoji here).

Jesus, the sad sack Twin Cities media. Seriously. They can't and won't let go of this old baggage. Its a self fulfilling prophecy if you can't move past this and treat each new opportunity as unrelated to the past. 

We all have the scars as fans, but if you can't enjoy the ride, then why bother being a fan at all? Just tune in each year to the Superbowl in early February and bypass the rest. A bunch of woe-is-me Eeyores.  :/

Maybe I dont have the perspective I need to living here. I think of it this way, it's a question of do you believe what the reporter is saying is representative of the fan-base or not?

Or is it just headlines for clicks?

In this case, I think Rand is taping into the psyche of a lot of fans and especially the 98'ers who became lifelong fans that season. 

Hell, even on this board you can feel it and read it...Is it beyond normal playoff time jitters? For some, for alot I would argue, but certainly not all of Viking nation. 

Anyways, I think there's a lot of truth to what Rand is saying. They eyore imo is representative of some fans, more than the reporter. 

There won't be any eyores in the stands @ USB, thats for sure. 

@"purplefaithful" said: Look, 98 and 09 left some big gaping wounds. Especially 98 and for me 77 too. But you eventually have to move on. What a wasted moment in time if those losses don't allow you to enjoy 13/3 season. 

Anyways, here's to hope (insert clink glass emoji here).

Lets not forget getting "Walshed" in '15 either.  That one stung like a MFer too.

I'm enjoying this season, but I do admit my excitment of how far this team goes is tempered because of all the past failures.  I used to ride high on my emotions when the team looked like SB Champs going into the playoffs, but because of those gut wrenching losses, I admit I'm way more cautious with my expectations.

I cheer and am proud of this team, and 13-3 is obviously incredibly special, but I'm not ready to think this team is unstoppable.  We need to get past this red hot Saints team first and foremost.

Can the SB win happen?  Sure, I believe it can.  Will it happen?  I'll only believe it when I see it. B)

I'M ALL IN.  I think we could have made a run in 2015, but weak-minded Walsh screwed it up. 

I don't see any weak minded guys on this team.  It's filled with guys that have GIGANTIC chips on their shoulders.  This team wants to prove something...  and Zimmer has the biggest chip of them all.

This is our time.  We deserve it, the players will earn it, and we will be VICTORIOUS.

BOOM

Man I wish I only had the disappointment of 98 to be haunted by....  

Enjoy the season.... or why bother.  

13-3...  Packers?  Swept.  Bears?  Swept.  Lions?  1-1 Dammit that needs to be fixed.  

Sunday....  Loud and Proud.  Down goes the taints.  

Yassss....

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread180111/nfl-insiders-predict-2017-playoff-bracket-divisional-round-super-bowl-lii-winner

@"StickyBun" said: Its a self fulfilling prophecy if you can't move past this and treat each new opportunity as unrelated to the past. 

It can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if we're not careful. Not to get all cosmic on ya'll, but if at the first sign of trouble, players and fans start envisioning defeat, the universe is going to realign itself and force it to fruition. Not that I believe in any of that horseshit, but hey, let's not take any chances. 

@"StickyBun" said: Jesus, the sad sack Twin Cities media. Seriously. They can't and won't let go of this old baggage. Its a self fulfilling prophecy if you can't move past this and treat each new opportunity as unrelated to the past. 

We all have the scars as fans, but if you can't enjoy the ride, then why bother being a fan at all? Just tune in each year to the Superbowl in early February and bypass the rest. A bunch of woe-is-me Eeyores.  :/

The term "victim shaming" is getting thrown around a lot in the media these days, but this is the best example I can see of it. We've been abused for years and suddenly we're supposed to just get over it? No, sir. 

I'm going into this weekend actively telling myself that I need to enjoy the game, win or lose, as could be the last time we'll see the Vikings take a snap (that counts) until September, but...

@"KingBash" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Jesus, the sad sack Twin Cities media. Seriously. They can't and won't let go of this old baggage. Its a self fulfilling prophecy if you can't move past this and treat each new opportunity as unrelated to the past. 

We all have the scars as fans, but if you can't enjoy the ride, then why bother being a fan at all? Just tune in each year to the Superbowl in early February and bypass the rest. A bunch of woe-is-me Eeyores.  :/

The term "victim shaming" is getting thrown around a lot in the media these days, but this is the best example I can see of it. We've been abused for years and suddenly we're supposed to just get over it? No, sir. 

I'm going into this weekend actively telling myself that I need to enjoy the game, win or lose, as could be the last time we'll see the Vikings take a snap (that counts) until September, but...

If there's one thing I've learned in IT, everything works until it breaks (but it was working befoooooore).

Same thing... every curse lasts until it's broke.

@"HappyViking" said: Lets not forget getting "Walshed" in '15 either.  That one stung like a MFer too.

That one didn't hurt too bad for me other than being upset for a few days.  There weren't too many with high expectations for that team and probably fewer that thought they'd beat Seattle after getting smoked by them in the same stadium a month earlier.  I think the cold evened out the game and gave them the chance to win...  but had they won I wouldn't have expected another win in AZ or Carolina.

Remember, that Vikings team, while pretty good in ppg allowed was still only 13th in ypg allowed.  The offense was pretty bad actually while being too one dimensional (29th in ypg / 31st passing).  That type of offense won't get far in the playoffs usually without a truly dominant defense to back it up.

The NFC Championship loss to the Falcons was by far the hardest for me to accept.  I am old enough to remember all 4 SB losses and none were as hard to deal with as watching the '98 teams loss and the way they lost.  Even the '09 loss wasn't as bad for me to stomach.

I think the main reason I'm tempering my excitement over this teams success to this point is because of the history of letdowns. 

I really hope this team can exorcise some of the demons, we'll see...

No need to worry...  Zimmer has his good luck charm.
Zimmer was asked his level of confidence in Forbath entering the playoffs...  “Good,’’ he said. “We got the crystal ball on our side.’’

All I got to say is Fuck Gary Anderson and Greg Williams

I think we are all still scarred from that game. :/

I think I was more devastated over 09. I think that team was a much better overall team. 09 would have been a for sure Super Bowl year as we would have dismantled the Colts. Not sure we would have won it in 98

@"AGRforever" said: All I got to say is Fuck Gary Anderson and Greg Williams

The guy you should be mad at for 98 is Robert Griffith: he dropped the easiest INT EVER. Would have ended the game in regulation. I mean it was stupid easy.

@"Canthony" said: I think I was more devastated over 09. I think that team was a much better overall team. 09 would have been a for sure Super Bowl year as we would have dismantled the Colts. Not sure we would have won it in 98

@"Canthony" said: I think I was more devastated over 09. I think that team was a much better overall team. 09 would have been a for sure Super Bowl year as we would have dismantled the Colts. Not sure we would have won it in 98

I see them as equal.  We would have won borh of those Super Bowls. The Vikings were the best team both of those years.