Fansided

5 best NFL teams to not win the Super Bowl

By Mike Phillips

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 1: Don Beebe #82 of the Buffalo Bills catches a pass against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Rich Stadium November 1, 1992 in Buffalo, New York. Beebe played for the Bills from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 1: Don Beebe #82 of the Buffalo Bills catches a pass against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Rich Stadium November 1, 1992 in Buffalo, New York. Beebe played for the Bills from 1989-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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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 ***
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 *** /

3. 1998 Minnesota Vikings

Vikings’ fans may want to avert their eyes as their team makes another appearance on this list. The only team on this countdown that didn’t actually make the Super Bowl, there has been a prevailing sentiment since 1998 that Minnesota would have won it all if they could have just gotten to the big game.

Like the 1984 Dolphins, the 1998 Vikings were an offensive juggernaut. Veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham delivered the best year of his career, tossing 34 touchdowns to a talented collection of pass-catchers headlined by Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss.

The Vikings scored a then-record 556 points during the regular season, never scoring less than 24 points in a game, with their lone loss coming by a field goal to Tampa Bay. A rout of the Arizona Cardinals sent the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game, where they hosted the Atlanta Falcons.

The game looked to be firmly in the bag for Minnesota when Gary Anderson, who hadn’t missed a kick all year, lined up for a 38-yard field goal with the Vikings up a touchdown in the final four minutes. Anderson shanked the kick, allowing Atlanta to get the ball back and tie the game before winning in overtime.

The shocking result brought one of the most prolific offenses to a grinding halt one game short of a Super Bowl appearance. The Denver Broncos blew out the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII and Vikings’ fans will tell you to this day that their team would’ve fared much better in that game.

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