Post by Purple Pain on Jun 27, 2020 21:27:42 GMT -6
ZC: New Orleans, Seattle and the Minnesota Vikings' Biggest Non-Divisional Rivals by Bo Mitchell
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zonecoverage.com/2020/minnesota-vikings-news/new-orleans-seattle-and-the-minnesota-vikings-biggest-non-divisional-rivals/
The Border Battle rivalry between the Vikings and Packers is the biggest in Minnesota sports, and it’s really not even close. Or is it? The Chicago Bears remain the Packers’ biggest rival due to proximity and the long history between the two teams (both franchises predate the Vikings by four decades). However, it would be fair to say the Bears might be the Vikings’ second-biggest rival, and the Vikings are probably the second-biggest rival of both the Packers and Bears.
There’s no love lost between these teams… you can throw the records out the window when these teams meet, etc. You’ve heard all the clichés. And that rivalry, as everyone seems well-aware, extends to the fans of each team.
Then there’s the Detroit Lions.
Given their residence in the NFC North and the fact divisional foes face each other twice a season, the games against the Lions are critical. They would have to be considered a rival of the Vikings (and Packers and Bears). However, the Lions probably don’t rate as even the third-biggest rival of any other team in the Black and Blue Division. Several decades of losing records will do that.
So, which team would be considered the Vikings’ biggest non-divisional rival beyond the Packers and (maybe) the Bears? One doesn’t need to think too long and hard to come up with a shortlist of contenders.
There’s no love lost between these teams… you can throw the records out the window when these teams meet, etc. You’ve heard all the clichés. And that rivalry, as everyone seems well-aware, extends to the fans of each team.
Then there’s the Detroit Lions.
Given their residence in the NFC North and the fact divisional foes face each other twice a season, the games against the Lions are critical. They would have to be considered a rival of the Vikings (and Packers and Bears). However, the Lions probably don’t rate as even the third-biggest rival of any other team in the Black and Blue Division. Several decades of losing records will do that.
So, which team would be considered the Vikings’ biggest non-divisional rival beyond the Packers and (maybe) the Bears? One doesn’t need to think too long and hard to come up with a shortlist of contenders.
At this point, I would submit a lot of Vikings fans rank the Saints right smack behind the Packers as the teams’ second-biggest rival heading into the 2020 season.
As such, my current rankings of the Vikings’ biggest rivals, regardless of division, would look like this:
1. Packers
2. Saints
3. Bears
4. Seahawks
5. Eagles
I don’t foresee the Lions crashing this top five anytime soon. Are there other contenders?
How ’bout dem Cowboys? Everyone hates the Cowboys outside of Dallas, right? Besides, a lot of (ahem) older Vikings fans are still rightfully bitter about the “Hail Mary” play on which Drew Pearson very clearly pushed off, preventing what might have been the greatest Vikings team of all time from advancing in the 1975 postseason. And then there’s the Herschel Walker trade. That’s two football felonies that have been perpetrated against the Vikings by Dallas. I’d say the Cowboys might be a strong number six on this list.
If we want to really stretch the imagination, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could potentially emerge as a rival of sorts in the coming years due to the drafting of Golden Gophers greats Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tyler Johnson (both of whom were coveted by Vikings fans). The only AFC team that appears to have the makings of a rivalry contender are the Buffalo Bills — have you seen the Twitter war of words between fans since the Stefon Diggs trade? It’s stupid, but it’s intense. What is it about Diggs being a key player in rivalries?
Who’d I miss?
As such, my current rankings of the Vikings’ biggest rivals, regardless of division, would look like this:
1. Packers
2. Saints
3. Bears
4. Seahawks
5. Eagles
I don’t foresee the Lions crashing this top five anytime soon. Are there other contenders?
How ’bout dem Cowboys? Everyone hates the Cowboys outside of Dallas, right? Besides, a lot of (ahem) older Vikings fans are still rightfully bitter about the “Hail Mary” play on which Drew Pearson very clearly pushed off, preventing what might have been the greatest Vikings team of all time from advancing in the 1975 postseason. And then there’s the Herschel Walker trade. That’s two football felonies that have been perpetrated against the Vikings by Dallas. I’d say the Cowboys might be a strong number six on this list.
If we want to really stretch the imagination, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could potentially emerge as a rival of sorts in the coming years due to the drafting of Golden Gophers greats Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tyler Johnson (both of whom were coveted by Vikings fans). The only AFC team that appears to have the makings of a rivalry contender are the Buffalo Bills — have you seen the Twitter war of words between fans since the Stefon Diggs trade? It’s stupid, but it’s intense. What is it about Diggs being a key player in rivalries?
Who’d I miss?
zonecoverage.com/2020/minnesota-vikings-news/new-orleans-seattle-and-the-minnesota-vikings-biggest-non-divisional-rivals/
... and neither is this Chris guy.