Vikings Fans Can Still Relate to Bills Fans
Ali Siddiqui
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On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills suffered yet another heartbreaking playoff loss.
Vikings Fans Can Still Relate to Bills Fans
Both fans of Buffalo and the Minnesota Vikings can relate to each other in many ways. Both are 0-4 all-time in Super Bowls (only two teams currently in the NFL) and have suffered many heartbreaking playoff losses. Both fan bases can also relate to their teams losing with infamous kicks.
In 1990, Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired. Had he made it, Buffalo would have won the Super Bowl against the New York Giants. On Sunday, Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard kick, which would have tied the game late in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 1998, Gary Anderson missed a 39-yard field goal for Minnesota, which would have all but wrapped up the NFC Championship against the Atlanta Falcons. In 2015, Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal in the Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks, which would have given them the lead with 22 seconds left.
Both kicks were wide left. Both kicks for Buffalo were wide-right.
Minnesota’s four Super Bowls were not all consecutive like Buffalo’s, but still all happened in the same decade.
Both fan bases have also had Stefon Diggs as their star wide receiver. Diggs forced his way out of Minnesota. Will he do the same with Buffalo? It would not be a surprise if he did. You have to wonder, by the way, if Buffalo regrets making the Diggs trade. Had they not done that, they would have had a shot at drafting Justin Jefferson. He is not only a better player than Diggs but is younger and would have been much cheaper these past four years.
Both teams may very well not be contending for a Super Bowl in the next several years, either. Perhaps both or one of them could, but right now, it is not looking very good.
Buffalo is in a very tough salary cap situation. They will be $43.732 million over the salary cap via OTC. That makes their present and future currently look worse than Minnesota’s. Minnesota still does not have its quarterback of the future. Even if Kirk Cousins is back for the next two years and does not miss a beat, they still need a long-term answer.
So far, in six seasons with Cousins as their quarterback, they have only made it to the playoffs twice (winning one playoff game). Yes, they would have made the playoffs this year if he had not gotten hurt and may have won the division for the second consecutive season, but would they have advanced to the Super Bowl? Very unlikely.
Cousins gets more blame than he should for them not winning more. He does deserve some thought, yes.
Minnesota entered the league in 1961 and has a regular season record of 523-435-11. Playoff record is 21-31. Buffalo entered the league in 1960 and has a regular season record of 473-501-8. Playoff record is 19-21.
Buffalo fans, just remember that no matter how tough it is to root for your team, Minnesota has it just as bad and definitely understands your pain. Their fans are here for your support.
Yes, Minnesota has a better regular season record, but the list of heartbreaks and losing all Super Bowls they have appeared in them makes them very comparable to Buffalo.
Seeing both teams face off in the Super Bowl someday would be something. One team would have to end their 0-4 drought. Both fans could spend the two weeks leading up to that game talking to each other about the painful memories and that perhaps their team could be the one finally hoisting the Lombardi trophy.
Which franchise accomplishes the ultimate goal first? Will either or both do so sometime? It will be fascinating to find out.
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