The Vikings’ Super Bowl History: Favored or Underdogs?
Favored in Two, But Still No Super Bowl Win
The Minnesota Vikings have participated in four Super Bowls, and in two of these, they were favored by the bookmakers. These were:
Super Bowl IV (1970) - The Vikings were favored but ultimately lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 23-7. Super Bowl VIII (1974) - The Vikings were favored again but lost to the Miami Dolphins 24-7.In their other two Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings were underdogs:
Super Bowl IX (1975) - The Vikings were underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers and lost 16-6. Super Bowl XI (1977) - The Vikings were also underdogs against the Oakland Raiders and lost 32-14.Despite their competitive history in Super Bowls, the Vikings have yet to secure a victory in any of them.
Super Bowl IV: The Favored but Unlucky Vikings
The Vikings' first Super Bowl appearance in 1970 was a memorable one, as they were favored in the game. They had a 12-2 record and had defeated the Rams and Browns in the playoffs. However, the Kansas City Chiefs, who had only qualified as the second place team in the AFL before their victories over the Jets and Raiders, were a formidable opponent.
The Kansas City Chiefs were led by talented players such as quarterback Len Dawson, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, defensive tackles Curley Culp and Buck Buchanan, and safety Johnny Robinson, all of whom would later be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Despite the NFL's perceived status as the superior league, the Chiefs defeated the Vikings 23-7 in a game where the Chiefs' defense forced five turnovers and held the Vikings to just 65 yards rushing. The Chiefs also outgained the Vikings 273 yards to 239.
Super Bowl VIII: Favorite Against Underdogs
In 1974, the Vikings once again entered the Super Bowl as favorites against the Miami Dolphins. This time, the Dolphins had a strong team with players like Bob Griese and Larry Csonka. However, the Vikings could not maintain their lead and lost by a significant margin of 24-7.
Both teams had strong records, but the perception of the Dolphins as underdogs may have contributed to the Vikings' defeat. Many pundits still considered the NFL to be the superior league.
Underdogs in Later Super Bowls
In their subsequent Super Bowl appearances, the Vikings were always underdogs:
In Super Bowl IX, the Vikings were heavily underdogs against the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers. In Super Bowl XI, the Vikings faced the Oakland Raiders, who were by far the favorite in the game.Despite these strong performances in Super Bowls, the Vikings fell short each time. This has left many fans and analysts to wonder why the Vikings have struggled in the Super Bowl over the years.
The NFL's superiority over the AFL during this time and the strong performances of teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins have contributed to the Vikings' losses in Super Bowl. However, each game provides a lesson and a new opportunity for the Vikings to claim victory in the future.
Conclusion
The Vikings have a rich history of being competitive in Super Bowls, but their lack of a victory can be attributed to both external and internal factors. Whether favored or underdogs, the Vikings' resilience and determination should not be overlooked. Only time will tell if the Vikings will finally bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Minneapolis.