All-Time NFL Franchise Power Rankings

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 13: View of the National Football League shield logo on a goal post during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 35-30. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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The Minnesota Vikings famed defensive line featuring Jim Marshall (70), Gary Larsen (77), and Hall of Fame members Alan Page (88) and Carl Eller (81) await the San Diego Chargers offense during a 30-14 loss to the Chargers on December 5, 1971, at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Charles Aqua Viva/Getty Images) /

11. NFL All-Time Power Rankings: Minnesota Vikings

Established: 1960
Playoff Appearances: 30
Division Titles: 20
MVPs: 3 (Alan Page in 1971, Fran Tarkenton in 1975 and Adrian Peterson in 2012)
Hall of Famers: 15
Championship Game Appearances: 10
NFL Championships: 1 (1969)
Super Bowl Appearances: 4 (1969, 1973, 1974, 1976)
Legacy Points: 92

Initially founded to deny the rival AFL a franchise in Minnesota, the Vikings quickly built a solid foundation for success. The Vikings claimed an NFL Championship in 1969, just their ninth season of play, but fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.

The core of that squad, headlined by Alan Page and the Purple People Eaters, remained a perennial contender throughout the 1970s, advancing to three more Super Bowls and losing each. Minnesota regularly contends for its division title and is a frequent playoff participant but the franchise has become notorious for its heartbreaking losses in the playoffs.

Since losing to the Raiders in Super Bowl XI Minnesota has reached the NFC Championship Game five times and lost on each occasion. The Vikings also featured one of the best teams to never win it all in 1998, watching Randall Cunningham’s offense become the most explosive in football and pile up a 15-1 record only to get upset in the NFC Championship Game by the Falcons when Gary Anderson’s first missed field goal of the season opened the door for a comeback by Atlanta.

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