Minnesota Vikings Claim Sports Illustrated Top 2017 Football Moment

The 2017 season was a true roller coaster for the Minnesota Vikings, filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

If nothing else that makes it one of the more memorable runs of any team in at least the past 10 years. Things certainly didn’t start well. They went 2-2 through the first quarter of the season and looked nothing like a contender. It wasn’t until there was a change at quarterback to a journeyman backup in Case Keenum that provided the team a spark they desperately needed. With his driving of the offense, Minnesota won 11 of their final 12 games to win the NFC North and clinch a first round bye in the playoffs.

The highs and lows certainly didn’t end there though. Sports Illustrated came out recently with their top 100 moments of the 2017 NFL season. In terms of on-the-field moments? That one ended up going to the Vikings for what transpired at U.S. Bank Stadium against the New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs.

"“5. The Browns become the second team to finish 0-16. The city “celebrates” with a parade.4. Tom Brady leads his 11th playoff fourth quarter/overtime comeback, erasing a 20-10 deficit to the Jaguars with two touchdown passes to Danny Amendola.3. Philadelphians buy every dog mask they can find as the Eagles win two playoff games as home underdogs to make the Super Bowl.2. The Minnesota Miracle (briefly) gives Vikings fans hope about the possibility of a home Super Bowl.1. President Donald Trump refers to a hypothetical kneeling NFL player as a “son of a b—-,” sparking a week of league-wide protesting as teams link arms, kneel during the anthem, or don’t come onto the field for the pregame tradition.”"

Minnesota Miracle was indeed high water mark for Vikings

The sheer amazement and absurdity of the “Minnesota Miracle” lay in how it transpired. With just 25 seconds left the Vikings got the ball back down 24-23 at their own 25-yard line. They would have to drive at least 40 yards to have a reasonable shot at a field goal. A tall order with such little time left. Things looked grim. Keenum had driven them to the 39-yard line with 10 seconds left. They were out of timeouts. If they didn’t get a good chunk of yards and stop the clock the game was over.

Then it happened.

The 66-yard touchdown to Stefon Diggs was everything about what makes the NFL playoffs the pinnacle of live television in the world. It was sudden, unexpected and utterly thrilling. It was almost simultaneously joyous and heartbreaking. One could argue Minnesota football had never seen a greater moment in its history. Then true to form, the high vanished in flames the next week as their Cinderella run came to an end 38-7 in Philadelphia.

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Vikings fans may not be happy about this consolation prize. At the same time, they shouldn’t take what happened in 2017 for granted. There were fans from 24 other teams who didn’t even get to taste playoff football this season, let alone witness a once-in-a-generation moment of pure bliss like that.