Miami Dolphins vs Minnesota Vikings
What a rare yet fascinating battle of two NFL teams that seldom play each other yet have rich histories both as franchises and versus each other. Read on to see what makes this such a unique football battle. And no, it’s not because it features dolphins and Vikings. It’s far bigger than that.
The History
These squads have only met 13 times, which isn’t many when you consider the Dolphins have been in existence since 1967 and the Vikings since 1962! The fact that they’ve only played 13 matches gives you an idea of just how rarely they play. On that note, the last time they faced off was December 16, 2018, when the Vikings pulverized the Dolphins, 41-17.
In terms of history, the Dolphins and Vikings acquired a lot of their success in the 1970s when they played in a combined six Super Bowls, with each team making it three times. Unfortunately for Minnesota, they would lose all three of their Super Bowl visits in the ‘70s while Miami would go 2-1. More on that later.
The Fans
NFL fandom can be extreme for certain franchises whereas others tend to have far milder fans. In the case of the Dolphins, for instance, they consistently rank near the bottom of the Most Loyal NFL Fans lists as opposed to Vikings fans, who usually rank in the top half of the league.
Well, why is that? Some believe the warm weather of Miami provides far more activities to do year-round such as going to the beach whereas fall and winter in Minnesota don’t allow for much outdoor activity because it’s freezing cold and you probably don’t want to get frostbite or hypothermia.
The Moments
While they only have 13 games between each other, there are still a few incredible moments in their history. One such moment came back on December 21, 2014, when the teams combined to score 41 points…in just the fourth quarter! After the Dolphins tied the score at 35 with just over a minute to go, they forced the Vikings to punt. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Miami would block their punt out of the back of the endzone for a safety, securing a 37-35 win.
Now, here’s where it gets fun: Super Bowl VIII featured the Dolphins vs Vikings for the 1973 Lombardi Trophy. With Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula at the helm, Miami would score the first 24 points of the game en route to a 24-7 victory over Bud Grant’s Vikings. The Dolphins' defense was the true star of the game as they didn’t allow a point to Minnesota until the fourth quarter. It was Miami’s second Super Bowl in a row.
A Treat for NFL Fans
Don’t be bummed if you were expecting marine mammals and Norsemen instead of two football franchises. If it makes you feel any better, you can still see dolphins off the coast of Miami but finding real Vikings may be difficult since they died out over a thousand years ago. If you want a great football game between two storied franchises, this is a game you need to watch as it only comes around once every four years.