Making a Move - 1987

[Music] January 17th 1988 Washington's RFK Stadium the threshold of a dream for the Minnesota Vikings a dream which began four months earlier in the comfort of the Metrodome and survived through one of the strangest yet most fulfilling seasons in the teams history it was a season which was jump-started by electricity marked by comeback victories in each of the first two weeks [Music] from Anthony Carter's initial airstrike of the season - Hassan Jones last-minute game-winner the following weeks the Vikings appeared to be off and running to a promising 1987 but the rest of the season wasn't quite so easy a player strike so head coach Jerry Burns and Duran oh and three record with a squad of replacement biking and Provo quarterback Tommy Cramer suffered through an injury-plagued season but the Vikings responded by meeting each challenge head-on in a season filled with pitfalls which could spell disaster for a lesser team the Minnesota Vikings not only survived they thrived and proved nothing could stop them from making a move [Music] the rebuilding of a once promising season began when the regular Vikings returned from a month layoff to host a Monday night encounter with the Denver Broncos Minnesota once again was off and running [Music] while Darren Nelson handled the 72 yard marathon the short Sprint's were left to rookie DJ Dozier number 42 whose three scores helped clinch a 3427 victory over the AFC Champions [Music] the Vikings first-round draft pick in 1987 Dosher showed his versatility as he tied for the team lead with seven touchdown Dosher was just one among a talented crop of biking rookies a group that also include hard running fullback Rick Finny number 31 [Music] as well as starting defensive tackle Henry Thomas number 97 who benefited from playing with one of the game's top pass rushers if you took the prototype of what you were looking for as a defensive end it certainly would be christologies six five and a half to sixty probably runs about a four seven forty is great upper-body strength there's great reactions we look for great things on Chris Romans after playing a year and a half at outside linebacker the imposing Chris Dolman spent his first full season at defensive end blazing a path of destruction through opposing backfield [Music] the result a team-high 11 sacks in six forced fumbles along with his first Pro Bowl berth [Music] Tolman quickly became a dominant figure among a new wave of purple people eaters which also included number 75 talented third-year tackle Keith Millar [Music] along with solid end Doug Martin number 79 a special chemistry throughout the defense mixed the youthful hunger of linebacker Jesse Solomon with the veteran instincts of 11-year man Scott Studwell who earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl going to his third straight Pro Bowl was ball hawking safety joy browner number 47 who totaled a career-high six interceptions while providing teammates with a take-charge leadership throughout the season [Applause] [Music] [Applause] while Browner provided leadership on defense quarterback Wade Wilson stepped up to provide a new leadership on offense the Viking attack didn't skip a beat [Music] Wilson's ability to spark the offense was never more evident than against the Raiders when he relieved Cramer in the second half and threw just two passes both for touchdowns in a 31 20 victory Wilson enjoyed his most productive season thanks in part to a brilliant supporting cast which included starting offensive lineman Tim Irwin David Huffman Kurt Loudermilk Terry couch Greg cook and number 65 Pro Bowl tackle Gary Zimmerman Wilson also was blessed with two Pro Bowl receivers and sure-handed tight end Steve Jordan along with the incomparable Anthony Carter Carter was a purple and white speed demon and fire-breathing cleats for opponents he was the most the deviling of problems for the vikings a divine gift from above I said that it's a good Lord ever put anybody on this earth to play football he put in and he got around this first the place where both at the he forgot to give him a body to go along with it the 511 175 pound quarter more than made up for his side he's as deceptive speed and that gives a great ability to run in the open field after he catches the ball [Music] Carter emerged as one of the most exciting big play receivers in football a deadly target for all three Viking quarterbacks along with Wade Wilson the Vikings who look to number 16 rookie Rich Gannon who's strong preseason showings served notice he is already a solid NFL passes and of course there was Tommy Cramer whose first touchdown pass of the season helped defeat Tampa Bay [Music] all three quarterbacks played the following week against Atlanta but the big hero is one of the smallest bike [Music] Leo Lewis raced 78 yards for Minnesota's first punt return touchdown since 1968 the 2413 victory was the Vikings third straight win and they look to run the streak to four on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas [Music] Kramer and Carter feasted on the Cowboys for two scores but it wasn't until overtime that Darren Nelson provided the gravy for this holiday tree Nelson's 24-yard score in sudden death quenched an exhilarating 4438 victory a triumph which had the seven and four Vikings once again thinking of a trip to the playoffs but heartfelt victory soon gave way to heartbreaking defeats including a bitter last-minute loss to the division champion bears three weeks later Minnesota used to Alfred Andersen touchdowns to build a ten point fourth quarter lead against the NFC East champion Redskins [Music] but the lead soon was melted away as Washington rallied to tie the score and eventually won in overtime 2724 [Music] despite that disappointing loss the Vikings qualified for the playoffs with an 8 and 7 record still the question remain for this team rediscover its winning edge in the postseason [Music] [Music] in the Vikings first playoff appearance in five years they were pitted against football's hottest team in the NFC wild-card game and early results indicated the host Saints would win their 10th straight [Music] just for place into the game New Orleans led 7-nothing the Vikings had landed in the middle of a hornet's nest surrounded by an entire city buzzing about its team's first winning season [Applause] [Music] [Applause] but while the Vikings and their fans may have been outnumbered they refuse to be run out of town [Music] Anthony Carter's incredible 84 yard punt return was the longest in NFL playoff history and sent an early message to the Saints you may be the top act in town but today we're here to steal the show [Music] the return gave Minnesota a 10-7 lead and the Vikings never looked back [Music] from miraculous receptions to Hail Marys the Vikings could do no wrong [Music] Hasaan Jones amazing touchdown catch came with no time remaining in the first half and built the Vikings lead to 21 points [Music] on a day that was supposed to be their own slice of heaven the Saints didn't have a prayer [Music] [Music] against the team with the best turnover ratio in football the Viking defense recovered two fumbles and intercepted four passes and left the offense to mop up what was left of the Saints [Music] the Vikings had crashed New Orleans with their own private Mardi Gras yes the biking that was who could break the spell the Saints had held on the NFL many hadn't believed the Vikings to be a worthy playoff opponent but any doubts that Minnesota belong to now been put to rest I'm not kind of striking we were aging for hey that's not backing in any way you know we rating for you know they were two or three teams that had a better record than we did but for the most part we deserve to be here it was a total team effort at old team wins something we haven't had her in quite some time hopefully this can carry over in the same spot the next challenge was even greater the 13 into San Francisco 49ers owners of the NFL's best offense and defense and prohibited favorites to win their third Super Bowl in the 80s [Music] [Music] [Music] many believe the game would not be closed and they were right but it was Minnesota not San Francisco that showed its muscle by dominating the line of scrimmage [Music] a stifling Viking defense held the mighty 49ers down while the Minnesota oppan works to put them away fast [Music] [Applause] [Music] wait wilson storing passes to Carl Hilton and Hassan Jones were the only two touchdowns the biking offense would need [Music] the stun San Francisco faithful watched helplessly as the underdog Vikings pull the soggy candlestick turf out from under their 40 dinars [Music] [Music] rookie quarterback Reggie Rutland landed the biggest prize of his life and cradled his trophy 45 yards for the score that broke the 49ers back while Rutland and the other Vikings beat the 49ers on field level one player beat them by soaring high above it into a stratosphere all his own [Music] the incredible Anthony Carter snatched 10 catches out of thin air for NFL playoff record 227 yards [Music] in a day filled with brilliant biking performances Carter's was the showstopper [Music] another NFL playoff record was set when kicker Chuck Nelson booted five field goals and went on to be perfect in the postseason the Vikings had banded together to produce their biggest victory in more than a decade one which many felt they could never pull off [Music] the 3624 triumph opened the eyes of the football world to the heart and character of these Minnesota Vikings a team which had come further than any expected and now was headed to its sixth NFC Championship game [Music] this place will be rocking today from RFK Stadium 55,000 Anne Anne and the Minnesota Vikings a wild-card team tries to get to the Super Bowl at the expense of the Washington Redskins the champions of the NFC East this should be entertaining after meeting in a thrilling regular-season finale the Vikings and Redskins made their rematch everything a championship game is supposed to be [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] for more than three periods the Vikings stood toe-to-toe with the favored Redskins battling to a 10-10 tie before Washington managed the go-ahead score with just over five minutes remaining in the game the Redskins held a 17-10 lead and the determined Vikings prepared for a final drive toward a tying score [Music] [Music] [Music] 56 seconds remain fourth down and four yards to go at the Washington six the Vikings had one shot to stay alive [Music] Minnesota came up just short in fulfilling the most unlikely of dreams but this one lost to the eventual world champions hardly contain a season filled with extraordinary achievement [Applause] [Music] the 1987 Minnesota Vikings were a team of electrifying flare and a resounding heart they were a team that reached back to conquer each new obstacle the season provided [Music] they were prize and strength [Music] [Music] above all the Vikings proved to be winners and left no doubt they were making a move [Music] right away

Channel: slingyrob43

Views: 57,741

Keywords: min, Minnesota (US State), Football, Challenge, American Football (Sport), Making, Highlights, Sports, minnesota, vikings, Bowl, Cowboys, washington redskins

Id: 5IoFVZ8hEW0

Length: 21min 51sec (1311 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 10 2012

Reddit Comments

[u/PM_ME_SQUISHY_BUTTS]

I miss the old NFL films documentaries... And Pat Summerall.

[u/3rdandalot]

NFL docs used to be how I spent my summers growing up. I miss growing up...

[u/Truecoat]

There are great Jerry Burns press conferences and then there are legendary ones. I used to have a tape I got from a sports guy following the final game. The reporters asked a couple questions to Burns about backing into the playoffs (since they lost the last game) but someone (might have been Sansevere) asked about the team not having a "killer instinct". He didn't like that one bit, went on a swearing tirade and even muttered under his breath after it was over "fucking killer instinct".

[u/currymonsterCA]

Dude...this is great! My brother and I had this on a VHS tape back in the day. We'd watch it in the off season to get hyped. Thanks for bringing back so many memories!