Minnesota Vikings - the new "America's team"

The Minnesota Vikings have received majorly nation wide attention lately. It started with Adrian Peterson and exploded the minute Brett Favre landed at Holman Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Why this sudden attention?

For starters, the Vikings are one of this season's top Super Bowl candidates, and no other other team has more wins the the Vikings after 7 weeks of NFL football.

Not to mention...

... Who has a 40 year old starting quarterback who is the only player that won against all 32 teams and with the most career touchdown passes, most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most career pass attempts, most career interceptions thrown, most consecutive starts, and most career victories as a starting quarterback. And still is performing at the same level as the best quarterbacks in the league?

... Who has the undoubtly most electrifying running back who set a single game rushing record as a rookie 8 games into the season, and is recognized as the best running back by probably somewhere around 90 % of the people?

... Who has arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL with the most sacks than any other player since year 2004. Combined with great charisma and media/fan friendly personality?

Not convinced? Let's look at some other kind of numbers...

The Minnesota Vikings' 30-23 win over the Green Bay in week 4 attracted the largest cable television audience ever and was watched by more than 21.8 million people. The previous record was more than 18.6 million viewers, and ESPN also said that the game drew the highest rating in the network's 30-year history.
Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

3 weeks later, the Vikings-Steelers, Falcons-Cowboys combined to set record television ratings and record audience for FOX network.
Link: http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...41/group/home/

The Minnesota Vikings is the only team with two names among the top 5 selling NFL jerseys. Brett Favre is 1st and Adrian Peterson is 5th.
Link: (Sorry, I don't remember where I read it)

I don't think the Vikings have gotten this much attention since the Randy Moss era. Hell, I think we have gotten even more attention.

"HEY" wrote:

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The Minnesota Vikings have received majorly nation wide attention lately. It started with Adrian Peterson and exploded the minute Brett Favre landed at Holman Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Why this sudden attention?

For starters, the Vikings are one of this season's top Super Bowl candidates, and no other other team has more wins the the Vikings after 7 weeks of NFL football.

Not to mention...

... Who has a 40 year old starting quarterback who is the only player that won against all 32 teams and with the most career touchdown passes, most career passing yards, most career pass completions, most career pass attempts, most career interceptions thrown, most consecutive starts, and most career victories as a starting quarterback. And still is performing at the same level as the best quarterbacks in the league?

... Who has the undoubtly most electrifying running back who set a single game rushing record as a rookie 8 games into the season, and is recognized as the best running back by probably somewhere around 90 % of the people?

... Who has arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL with the most sacks than any other player since year 2004. Combined with great charisma and media/fan friendly personality?

Not convinced? Let's look at some other kind of numbers...

The Minnesota Vikings' 30-23 win over the Green Bay in week 4 attracted the largest cable television audience ever and was watched by more than 21.8 million people. The previous record was more than 18.6 million viewers, and ESPN also said that the game drew the highest rating in the network's 30-year history.
Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

3 weeks later, the Vikings-Steelers, Falcons-Cowboys combined to set record television ratings and record audience for FOX network.
Link: http://www.grandforksherald.com/even...41/group/home/

The Minnesota Vikings is the only team with two names among the top 5 selling NFL jerseys. Brett Favre is 1st and Adrian Peterson is 5th.
Link: (Sorry, I don't remember where I read it)

I don't think the Vikings have gotten this much attention since the Randy Moss era. Hell, I think we have gotten even more attention.

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While that is true, and wins are what really counts, there are still 3 undefeated teams.
Personally i think 'america's team' is subjective and virtually impossible to measure.
I'd much rather have 'World Champion' or 'Dynasty' attached then 'america's team'.

Nice to think about but it might be a tad bit premature. we are still in the congeniality phase.

Generally americas team needs to win in the playoffs and win the big dance

Until then we are still the underrated Vikings

The reason I used the term "America's team": it's the nickname of the Dallas Cowboys who currently have the most media attention and the biggest fanbase in the NFL.

"HEY" wrote:

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The reason I used the term "America's team": it's the nickname of the Dallas Cowboys who currently have the most media attention and the biggest fanbase in the NFL.

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They've gotten that nickname over time.
There will never be any other America's team, otherwise there'd be a new america's team every year.

The Vikings are becoming Oklahoma's favorite team. When I venture to a bigger town I nearly always see a Peterson jersey.

"JeffSeimon" wrote:

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The Vikings are becoming Oklahoma's favorite team. When I venture to a bigger town I nearly always see a Peterson jersey.

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That's sweet!

Well, they have had votes on this in the past.

Yes, Dallas is the self-proclaimed "America's Team"

Just like I have had my nether regions fried when some stupid vote (ESPN) took away my "Titletown, USA"

ONE team, to my knowledge, has dethroned the Dallas Cowboys as "America's Team", by fan voting, in the past.

The Green Bay Packers.

America loves when the Pack is back.
You must really hate that aspect.

"dfosterf" wrote:

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Well, they have had votes on this in the past.

Yes, Dallas is the self-proclaimed "America's Team"

Just like I have had my nether regions fried when some stupid vote (ESPN) took away my "Titletown, USA"

ONE team, to my knowledge, has dethroned the Dallas Cowboys as "America's Team", by fan voting, in the past.

The Green Bay Packers.

America loves when the Pack is back.
You must really hate that aspect.

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wanna know what, back in the day, I can't remember when, a group approached the Rooney family about dubbing the Steelers a title called "America's team".
The Steelers would have nothing to do with it, as it seemed too cocky, and they'd rather let their play do the talking then have some bullshit made up nickname.
Cowboys were the 2nd choice, and they became known as America's team.


It wouldn't surprise me if the Packers were upthere, they have after all been around since the 20's, they've built up a rather large fanbase.