On NFC Championships

First glance of the history of the NFC Championship points to two teams: the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. Between the two, they have participated as 26 of the possible 78 entrants. In other words, every three years, we have averaged seeing one of these teams twice.

Next on the list is the combination Rams (Los Angeles - seven, St. Louis - two) with nine. After that, the next highest team is Minnesota. In this the 40th year of the NFC title game, the Vikings will be participating in their 8th conference title game. Our record is presently 3-4, and an additional 1-0 record in NFL Championships. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints will be entering their 2nd conference title game, and as a franchise tied with the Lions for thirty-nine years of conference futility, are 0-1.

After the first four teams the list drop quickly. Both the Redskins and the Eagles have been to six. Next, the Bears and Packers with four visits. This means that as of this year the Vikings have been to twice as many NFC Championships as either Green Bay or Chicago, or as many as both combined. In the conference title game, Green Bay and Chicago are 2-2. The Packers did win two NFL Championships in the first two Super Bowl years.

It has been a long time since the Vikings have won the conference championship. At one point we were 4-1 if you include 1969. But we have lost the last three times, including the longest conference game on record, the dreaded overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It has been hard to return to the Super Bowl since we did it four times in less than ten years under Bud Grant.

In 2010 we now travel to New Orleans to play the Saints. Emotions are high on both sides as each team blew out their opponent to get here. Minnesota is filled with a long history of getting to this game. The Saints are relatively new to this world. New Orleans comes in the home-favorite, looking for their first Super Bowl visit. Minnesota enters looking for their first Super Bowl win.