Ranked: The 5 Best Vikings Moments from the Last 5 Years
The Minnesota Vikings own the NFL’s 13th-best record since the start of 2019, switching between coaching staffs of Mike Zimmer and Kevin O’Connell while led by Kirk Cousins at quarterback — until last week,
Ranked: The 5 Best Vikings Moments from the Last 5 Years
The era has produced oodles of memorable moments, with many more on the way in 2024 and beyond.
But to reflect, these are the top five Vikings moments of the last five years, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top moment).
5. Joshua Dobbs Wins It at ATL
2023
“They’re putting this guy in? He just arrived a few days ago.”
That was the reaction from Vikings fans in early November 2023. Soon after, Joshua Dobbs led Minnesota to a then-crucial victory at the Atlanta Falcons after rookie passer Jaren Hall was concussed during his second offensive drive.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell taught Dobbs plays on the fly — just as much a testament to O’Connell as Dobbs — and the journeyman quarterback spellbound Vikings fans.
Late in the game, Dobbs delivered this strike to Brandon Powell, and DobbsMania was born, though it lasted just a few weeks.
4. The Comeback over Denver
2019
Perhaps overlooked because it was nearly five years ago, Minnesota erased a 21-0 halftime deficit against the Denver Broncos in November 2019. It was the quintessential “tale of two halves.” Everything stunk in the 1st Half but was equally wonderful after the break.
Kirk Cousins was electric in Quarters 3 and 4, and the Vikings held the Broncos in the redzone on the game’s final play to complete one of the most exciting comebacks in franchise history. The comeback, however, was later knocked out of the park by No. 2 on this list.
3. Vikings at Bills — All of It
2022
This game had about 20 moments that could land on a list like this.
Minnesota fell behind 27-10 in the 3rd Quarter before Dalvin Cook broke off a sweet touchdown run. After that, about 10 or so mini-miracles took care of the rest. Everything fell the Vikings’ way that Sunday and Justin Jefferson put his premiere career highlight on tape.
In the 4th Quarter, a mind-boggling quarterback sneak fumble let the Vikings back in the game. They later won in overtime, and Vikings at Bills in 2022 might’ve been the most memorable Vikings regular season win in franchise history. That — or the next game.
2. The Greatest Comeback in NFL History | vs. IND
2022
Minnesota trailed the Indianapolis Colts 33-0 at halftime on December 17th, 2022. In the first half, they looked like total imbeciles. Downright buffoons.
The 3rd Quarter kicked off, and the Vikings promptly recorded a three-and-out on offense. Thereafter, all the bad stuff stopped. Led by Cousins, Minnesota barnstormed, chipping away at the Colts’ humongous lead brick-by-brick, culminating in an overtime session.
Greg Joseph did this, and the Vikings — a franchise not known for majestic comebacks or generalized good fortune — completed the largest comeback in NFL history.
It’s unlikely that another team will break the record anytime soon. The last comeback record stood for 30 years.
1. Cousins + Thielen + Rudolph at NO
2019 Postseason
Almost falling in “no caption needed” status, Cousins was brilliant in the postseason a bit over four years ago. The Vikings were 7.5-point underdogs entering New Orleans, stunning the Saints in the NFC Wildcard Round. In fact, Minnesota effectively ended New Orleans’ last-best Super Bowl hope with Drew Brees in charge.
Cousins dimed a sweet bomb to Adam Thielen in overtime, followed by a walk-off touchdown to Kyle Rudolph minutes later.
This moment ranks tops in the last five years because it occurred in the postseason.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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