Kick Ass Offense

1. 1998 Minnesota Vikings (15-1, 1-1)

Minnesota put on an intense display of offensive fireworks, scoring an NFL-record 556 points. Then the Vikings ran up against a determined Atlanta squad in the NFC Championship Game. Randall Cunningham enjoyed the best season of his career, with a 106.0 passer rating, and Robert Smith racked up 1,478 yards from scrimmage. Cris Carter and Randy Moss teamed up for 2,324 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. The Vikings’ only regular-season loss was by a field goal on the road. Few in football circles gave the Falcons, 11-point underdogs, much of a chance. But who could have anticipated Atlanta’s Chris Chandler throwing for 340 yards and three touchdowns? And as any Vikings fan will tell you, the backbreaker was Gary Anderson’s 38-yard missed field goal attempt with 2:07 left in the fourth quarter. Anderson had been perfect on 37 previous tries that season, but he missed with the season on the line, and Minnesota lost in overtime. So unexpected was Atlanta’s victory that The Miami Herald announced “Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings” across the top of an early edition of its Sunday paper.

Source: ESPN.com

ESPN.com ranks all 80 Super Bowl teams. The 4 Vikings squads rank as follows:

45. 1969 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
53. 1976 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 11-2-1 (2-1)
60. 1973 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
65. 1974 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 10-4 (2-1)

The number one ranked team was the 1989 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 14-2 (3-0)

Source: ESPN.com

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar is considered a candidate for the Defensive Coordinator position at Oklahoma State.

During an appearance on the “Tonight Show” on Tuesday, Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia said he will be “testing the [free agent] waters.” That means there will be plenty of speculation in the coming weeks about the Vikings putting an attractive offer on the table for the quarterback. Garcia’s value skyrocketed after he helped lead the Eagles to the playoffs.

Source: Access Vikings: Blog Archive

Scratch Mike Furrey off the list. The Lions re-signed Mike Furrey to a three year deal. Furrey had 96 receptions in 2006.

Nielsen ratings for the week ending January 21

1. AFC Championship Post Game Show - Pats vs. Colts (CBS)
2. AFC Championship Game - Pats vs. Colts (CBS)
3. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
4. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
5. AFC Championship Post Game Show (CBS)
6. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
7. CSI (CBS)
8. Golden Globe Awards (NBC)
9. Desperate Housewives (ABC)
10. NCIS (CBS)
11. 24 (FOX)
12. Shark (CBS)
13. Law and Order: SVU (NBC)
14. Ugly Betty (ABC)
15. CSI: NY (CBS)
16. Without A Trace (CBS)
17. Criminal Minds (CBS)
18. Extreme Makeover (ABC)
19. CSI: Miami (CBS)
20. The Unit (CBS)

Source: TwinCities.com

Jason Hill WR 6-0 210 Washington St.

Brandon Myles WR 6-1 190 West Virginia

Kolby Smith RB 6-0 215 Louisville

Paul Posluszny LB 6-2 230 Penn State

Tony Hunt RB 6-1 220 Penn State Hunt surprised everyone by checking in a little heavier than expected at 239 pounds. Yet that seems to have positively affected his game. Hunt has been a monster carrying the ball on the inside and equally productive as a blocker. Source SI.com

Victor Abiamiri DE 6-4 268 Notre Dame

Earl Everett LB 6-2 227 Florida

Kareem Brown DL 6-5 305 Miami

Speculation by Christopher Cornell an All Headline News Sports Reporter that one of The Eagles two quarterbacks could wind up with The Minnesota Vikings.

“If Garcia does decide to test the market, the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both in the market for a starting quarterback.

Also, if the Eagles decide to trade McNabb and stick with Garcia, Minnesota would be a perfect fit. Head coach Brad Childress was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles before he took the job and one of his assistants was an assistant at Syracuse while McNabb was attending the university.”

Source: All Headline News

The Minnesota Vikings player observations for the day:

Ryan Kalil OL 6-3 285 USC

Chase Pittman DE 6-4 263 LSU

Ken Darby RB 5-11 213 Alabama