NFL History: Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history

Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history: 20. 1987 Minnesota Vikings

The dominant 70s by the Minnesota Vikings did not turn into the same success in the 1980s. The Purple People Eaters were a distant memory, and the team from the Twin Cities was trying to re-find its identity. In 1987, they had their first playoff berth in five years. Funnily enough, they actually had a worse record than the year before, but sometimes it takes a little luck to put together a magical run.

The Vikings were torn between quarterbacks Wade Wilson and Tommy Kramer. Wilson was becoming a little too erratic for head coach Jerry Hughes’ liking, and he allowed Kramer to take some starts. Either way, wide receiver Anthony Carter and tight end Steve Jordan led the offense. Carter led the league this season with more than 24 yards per reception.

After squeaking into the playoffs, the Vikings faced the usually bad New Orleans Saints in the first round. It was the complete and utter destruction of a team. This wasn’t where the legend was born. The Saints losing in the playoffs was a formality at this point.

Where the legend was born was in the Divisional Round. The Vikings were going up against the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana. The Niners lost two games all season. The team had Montana, Jerry Rice, and Roger Craig still in their primes. This was a team that wasn’t supposed to be stopped. Then, the Vikings stopped them. In fact, they punched them right in the mouth. They took a 20-3 first-quarter lead, and they never let up. Montana took four sacks and eventually saw Steve Young take over under center. It was a bad day at Candlestick Park.

The Vikings would lose in the NFC Championship, but the win against the 49ers is one of the greatest in franchise history. The fact that they did it as the underdog wild card makes it even better.