Top 5 moments of Dennis Green's career

Top 5 moments of Dennis Green’s career

Dennis Green head coach for the Arizona Cardinals gets a pat on the back from Marty Schottenheimer after a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California on December 31, 2006. The Chargers won 27 to 20. (Photo by Peter Brouillet/NFLPhotoLibrary) /

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham (7) calls signals under center Jeff Christy (62) during the Vikings 41-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 10, 1999 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mark Brettingen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

1. The 1998 season with the Minnesota Vikings

Dennis Green went 15-1 with the Vikings in the ’98 regular season, setting a record for points scored that wasn’t broken until the 2013 edition of the Denver Broncos came around. Led by Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, and rookie wide receiver Randy Moss, the Vikings had one of the best regular seasons in NFL history, until they met the 14-2 Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship.

The “Dirty Bird” Falcons, led by Jamal Anderson, jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead that was quickly matched by a bomb from Cunningham to Moss. The Vikings made quick work of the rest of the half despite having to settle for two field goals instead of touchdowns, leading 20-7 before the Falcons scored a minute before halftime to make it 20-14. Late in the 4th quarter, veteran kicker Gary Anderson, who hadn’t missed a field goal in 2 years, whiffed a 39-yarder to put the game out of reach. The Falcons drove the field and tied the game at 27, forcing overtime.

Falcons kicker Morten Anderson booted a field goal in overtime and that was it. The Vikings lost, 30-27. The Vikings and Dennis Green had multiple chances to put the Falcons away, but simply couldn’t. The Falcons went on to lose the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos 34-19.

Despite the late loss, what Green did with the Vikings shouldn’t be underestimated. They didn’t win a title, but the ’98 Vikings were one of the best teams ever assembled. NFL Network named Dennis Green’s squad as the 4th best team to never win a title. It took Peyton Manning and a modern spread offense to surpass what the Vikings did with Randall Cunningham and a young Randy Moss. The loss was disappointing, but the ’98 Vikings will live on.

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