Why, haven't we seen this movie?

If you're looking for a Vikings quarterback trademark, we think we might have found it -- at least in terms of fairly recent history. Aside from the Daunte Culpepper roller-coaster ride, Minnesota's best seasons in the 1990s and 2000s have come with supposedly past-their-prime QBs at the helm: Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George and now, of course, Brett Favre. In particular, we'd like to take a look at the somewhat similar storylines with Moon and Favre. The tale of the tape:

 The year before

• In 1993, the year before the Vikings acquired Moon, they went 9-7 and made the playoffs. Two QBs (Jim McMahon and Sean Salisbury) started at least four games each and combined for 3,381 yards passing, 18 TDs, 14 INTs and a 79.1 rating. In the playoffs, the Vikings struggled on offense and lost to an NFC East team (the Giants) 17-10.

The year before

• In 2008, the year before the Vikings acquired Favre, they went 10-6 and made the playoffs. Two QBs (Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson) started at least four games each and combined for 3,217 yards passing, 22 TDs, 17 INTs and an 81.5 rating. In the playoffs, the Vikings struggled on offense and lost to an NFC East team (the Eagles) 26-14.

• With an upgrade at QB a clear priority, many fans wanted the Vikings to land coveted QB Scott Mitchell. Minnesota went hard after Mitchell, but ultimately he wound up signing with Detroit, a division foe. Mitchell was supposed to stabilize a quarterback situation that had been a problem for a long time in Detroit. Instead, Mitchell had one good year and four forgettable ones with the Lions, and the Vikings instead wound up with a blessing in disguise by getting Moon.

• With an upgrade at QB a clear priority, many fans wanted the Vikings to land coveted QB Jay Cutler. Minnesota explored the idea of trading for Cutler, but he was ultimately traded to Chicago, a division foe. Cutler was supposed to stabilize a quarterback situation that had been a problem for a long time in Chicago. Instead, Cutler has thrown 18 INTs in 10 games, and his trademarks have been throwing off his back foot into traffic and then pouting. The Vikings wound up with a blessing in disguise by getting Favre.

• Moon got the Vikings off to a hot start (7-2) and wound up throwing for 4,264 yards while leading the Vikings to a division title. But Minnesota lost in the first round of the playoffs.

• Favre got the Vikings off to a hot start (9-1) and has a 112.1 QB rating, 21 TD passes and just 3 INTs while leading the Vikings to a commanding lead. ... It's the part about the playoffs where the Vikings hope this parallel story goes off script.