Dejected Fans of Minnesota Sports - Candyman5's Blog

Candyman5's Blog

Dejected Fans of Minnesota Sports

Posted on November 30, 2008 at 03:18 PM.

Top 5 Moss Moments.

In the next few weeks, as the NFL season winds down...you'll be hearing more and more talk about the Patriots quest to not only go undefeated, but to also beat the single season scoring record by an NFL team. In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings, led by veterans Randall Cunningham, Chris Carter and Gary Anderson...as well as the promising and controversial rookie, Randy Moss...set the NFL record for most points scored by an NFL team with 556 points. The Vikings finished the regular season that year with a record of 15-1.

With 5 games left this season, the Patriots need 115 points to break it...which may seem unlikely, but with the way this team is rolling, it's not at all implausible. The Pats would just need to average 23 points per game over a 5 game span to do so...which they would probably need to do anyways, to keep their perfect season alive.

At this same point in that memorable 1998 season, the Vikings had 348 points thru 12 games...which isn't even close to what the Patriots have now at 442 total points. However, the Vikings went on a tear scoring 208 points in their last five games to set the record.

As a Moss and Vikings fan, I'm not at all surprised that he might once again have a hand in breaking this record. Let's take a look back at that historic rookie year for Moss, and highlight some of his best moments from that record breaking season.

Top 5 Moss games in 1998

Week 1 - Vikings 31, Bucs 7

In his first game as a Viking, Moss made a huge splash catching 4 passes for 95 yards and two TD's. His first NFL touchdown, appropriately enough, was a 48-yard long toss down the left sideline from QB Brad Johnson. As he came down with the ball in the end zone, the defender got a hand on it causing Moss to juggle it just a bit, but he finished the grab and afterwards celebrated by doing his own impression of the "Lambeau Leap", jumping into the arms of Minnesota fans in the crowd. He also added a 31-yard TD later in the game that helped put the Bucs away in that game for good.

Week 5 - Vikings 37, Packers 24
In week 5, Moss made his first trip to Lambeau Field as the Vikings faced their toughest task yet. Not only were the Packers riding an impressive 25 game win streak at home, it was also raining for the duration of the game. With the game tied at 10-10 in the 2nd quarter, Moss hauled in a 52-yard touchdown pass from QB Randall Cunningham...capping off a 4 play, 76-yard drive that put the Vikings ahead for good. Moss also added a 44-yard TD in the 4th quarter and finished the day with 190 receiving yards for 2 TD's. But it was Cunningham who ultimately stole the show, passing for 442 yards and 4 TD's...single-handedly ending the Packers home win streak.

Week 12 - Vikings 28, Packers 14
In week 12, it was the Vikings turn to host the Packers with this game having heavy implications of who would take the top spot in the NFC North division. Moss had a huge day, piling up 153 receiving yards on 8 catches...but didn't find the end zone until the 4th quarter. With the Vikings holding onto a 20-14 lead late in the game, Moss sealed the win with a 49-yard TD catch. In his first two games ever against the rival Packers, Moss had amassed 13 catches for 343 yards and 3 TD's...and helped the Vikings end the Packers three year dominance of the NFC North division. Take THAT, Packer fans!!

Week 13 - Vikings 46, Cowboys 36
In week 13, the Cowboys welcomed the Vikings for their annual Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. With both teams playing on short rest (Vikings played Sunday, the Cowboys had just played on Monday night) it didn't take long for the Vikings to get things started. On their first drive of the game, the Vikings went 80 yards on 4 plays, culminating with a 51-yard TD catch by Moss on a flea-flicker from Cunningham. The Cowboys, who were without Pro-Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders, got lit up fast and early as Moss added a second TD still in the first quarter, on a 56-yard pass. In the 3rd quarter, Moss added one more TD on yet another 56-yard pass. He finished the day with 163 yards on 3 catches, all for TD's. On the nation's largest stage for the first time, Moss was able to show the world his big-play making ability.

Week 14 - Vikings 48, Bears 22
With fellow WR Chris Carter out of the game early with a calf injury, Moss stepped up into the leading role and shined...but not in his normal fashion. In the 1st quarter Moss got the scoring started on a 6-yard TD pass from Cunningham. In the 2nd quarter he added another TD on a 3-yard pass, giving the Vikings a 27-0 lead at the half. In the 3rd quarter, Moss caught his 3rd TD of the day on a 34-yard pass. For the 2nd straight week, Moss had caught 3 TD's in a game...giving him a total of 14 TD catches on the season, breaking the previous record for TD catches for a first year player.

By seasons end, Moss had 69 receptions for 1,313 yards (an amazing average of 19 yards per catch) and 17 TD's and as such, was honored as Rookie of the Year. Not to be out shadowed though, was the year that Vikings kicker Gary Anderson had, making all 35 field goal attempts and all 59 extra point attempts he tried, making him the first kicker to have a perfect regular season. However, the same perfect leg that helped carry them through the year, would also ultimately be there downfall.

After cruising through the regular season and first round of the playoffs, the Vikings found themselves in the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons. With just over 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter and holding onto a 27-20 lead, the Vikings sent the still perfect Anderson out for a 38-yard field goal that if made, would have given the Vikings a two possession lead, and most likely the win. However, for the first time all year, Anderson missed a field goal. After the miss, the Falcons proceeded to drive the ball 71 yards, on 8 plays for a TD and sent the game into overtime. In OT, the Falcons again orchestrated a 70-yard drive, this time setting up a game winning 38-yard field goal by Falcons Kicker Morten Anderson. With one kick, the Vikings season was over.

What was supposed to be an amazing match-up between the Vikings and the Broncos for the title, instead became yet another boring, lop-sided Super Bowl pairing. The Broncos beat the Falcons handedly 34-19, and in his last season, the Bronco's John Elway was able to hoist the Super Bowl trophy for a 2nd year in a row...much to the detest of Vikings fans everywhere.

So with no Super Bowl ring to show for it, all that is left to remember that 1998 Vikings team by is the record for highest scoring team ever. And even if that record is broken by the Pats this year, that Vikings team will always be remembered as one of the most explosive offenses in the history of the NFL.

Thanks to Aaron from another site for some info.

Comments

# 1 baumy300 @ Nov 30

Nice. It just gets me sick when we go and trade all of our super stars like Moss, Garnett, Santana, etc...

Makes me also wonder what we're going to do with Peterson!

# 2 Candyman5 @ Nov 30

Yep, if Vikings ever got rid of AD without good reason I

# 3 Candyman5 @ Nov 30

will be done with being a Viking fan for good. EDIT: Accidently hit enter. :P

# 4 snepp @ Dec 1

Now I'm depressed, thanks.

:P

# 5 baumy300 @ Jan 30

Hate to say it, but Brad Childress has sucked all the joy out of Vikings football for me. Even with AD it just doesn't seem to do it for me anymore.

When he leaves I will have a new ray of hope for this team, but my heart is dead now. The man has single handedly ruined Minnesota Viking football for me with his ignorance, arrogance, and his unpreparedness.