What do you consider a successful season?

There have already been a couple posts implying that the only successful season is one that ends with a SB championship. I disagree, but want to see what others think.

Personally, I think there are several levels of success for a NFL season. It is not a black and white grade, just like in life. I may not be the richest person in the world, but I consider myself to be financially successful. I may not be the most empathetic or charitable person in the world, but I consider myself to be morally successful.

For a football season, I often look at it comparison to both expectations and the last season. Do we exceed expectations for the season? Did we improve from last season? If so I don't think the season was a failure. Maybe not a success, but not a failure either.

I think any time you make the playoffs, it is a successful regular season. Winning the division is more successful. #1 seed is even more successful.

Once you are in the playoffs, it is a different story. Winning a playoff game is a successful POST season. Winning a divisional round is more successful. Winning the NFC Championship is even more successful. And winning the SB is the ultimate success.

So where were the Vikings this year? Well, they exceeded expectations, did better than last season, and made the playoffs but lost in the first round. I would say this was a successful season but not a successful post-season.

Good jobs are for losers.
I was unable to watch the rest of this weeks games because I felt sick to my stomach.
Nothing short of winning it all is a successful season. Some other team is going to win it all. Why not us? The Vikings have the 2nd most trips to the post season in NFL history... does that make you feel good? Seems to be like we have a history of "good runs and good seasons".

It's all just entertainment for me.As long as the Vikes are competitive and fun to watch I'm happy.Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see them get a ring but in reality only one team per year gets one so our chances aren't that good to start with, 1 out of 32 ain't that great.If you're going to get all bent out of shape cuz they don't win the super bowl you might want to find something else to occupy your time.I'm into musky fishing and bow hunting as well and it's the same deal, it's all about the hunt, not the "kill".

It far exceeded my expectations.
Peterson had the most impressive season of any Viking I can remember, seems a shoe in for MVP of the league.
The season finally against the Packers was probably top 3 greatest games I've ever been to. (Peterson's 296 against the chargers and beating the Cowboys in the playoffs are the other two).

I'm not ready to call it a successful season though, If the packers make the Super Bowl there is no way I can call it a successful season.

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Originally Posted by NodakPaul

There have already been a couple posts implying that the only successful season is one that ends with a SB championship. I disagree, but want to see what others think.

Personally, I think there are several levels of success for a NFL season. It is not a black and white grade, just like in life. I may not be the richest person in the world, but I consider myself to be financially successful. I may not be the most empathetic or charitable person in the world, but I consider myself to be morally successful.

For a football season, I often look at it comparison to both expectations and the last season. Do we exceed expectations for the season? Did we improve from last season? If so I don't think the season was a failure. Maybe not a success, but not a failure either.

I think any time you make the playoffs, it is a successful regular season. Winning the division is more successful. #1 seed is even more successful.

Once you are in the playoffs, it is a different story. Winning a playoff game is a successful POST season. Winning a divisional round is more successful. Winning the NFC Championship is even more successful. And winning the SB is the ultimate success.

So where were the Vikings this year? Well, they exceeded expectations, did better than last season, and made the playoffs but lost in the first round. I would say this was a successful season but not a successful post-season.

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I get where you're going...but I don't really agree.

A "Successful" season, to me, is one where demonstrable forward progress is made. A season which appears to be leading your team to the Championship. Winning it all isn't the ONLY measure of a successful season, but that HAS to be the end goal.

Using that as the measuring stick, I don't consider this season to be a "success". I think this season is attributed almost entirely to riding on the back of Adrian Peterson.

See, while I think the Defensive Secondary improved, the Linebacker corps took a step backwards. Meanwhile, the D-Line got a year older, and while the new guys up front had some good games, we're going to approach the tipping point soon where Williams and Allan's skill levels decline beyond where the new guys ability levels rise.

On Offense, all we had was Peterson. IMHO, the Offense was ENTIRELY based upon Peterson. Remove AP from the equation, and we have a HORRIBLE offense. Without the ability to have any real kind of passing game, the Vikings eliminate themselves from serious contention for a Championship.

And, IMHO, that Offensive failing starts with Frazier and Musgrave. Yes, a large part of it is the complete lack of talent at the WR position as well as the question mark at QB, but it comes back to Frazier/Musgrave every time.

Frazier/Musgrave DID make improvements on the O-line...but that, coupled with AP, doesn't get it done. They MUST develop a vertical threat for us to be contenders.

Meanwhile, the Defense needs to play at a higher level - especially at LB (Minus Greenway).

Once THAT happens, we'll be on our way to a "successful" season.

Caine

I feel like there are plenty of successful seasons that do not end with a Super Bowl championship ... but the season should be progressing toward that end for it to be successful.

I would find it difficult to see this past season as anything but a success considering where we came from and where we appeared to be going.

I agree with Caine that there is a lot of things that still need addressed, but I cannot see this season as anything other than an overriding success. Now, because of the way this season played out ... what can be seen as a success next season is greatly different. We have to be serious contenders at this point.

For me ... as long as I want to watch every week and as long as we are contenders for the playoffs the season matters and is fun as a fan. Last season, by week 10 it didn't matter if I could find the game on the Internet or if I could sneak out of the house to go to the local Vikings bar, because the season was pretty much over. I still watched, and still caught most of the games, but it didn't have the importance or meaning that good seasons have.

In the end ... only one team is going to win every year. It is going to be tough for that to be your team. Look at the Steelers ... 6 Super Bowl crowns, which means they didn't win FORTY times. And they are the big winners. There are plenty of seasons that are successful without winning it all ... but it certainly would be nice to get that trophy once, or twice, or ten times.

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Originally Posted by Caine

I get where you're going...but I don't really agree.

A "Successful" season, to me, is one where demonstrable forward progress is made. A season which appears to be leading your team to the Championship. Winning it all isn't the ONLY measure of a successful season, but that HAS to be the end goal.

Using that as the measuring stick, I don't consider this season to be a "success". I think this season is attributed almost entirely to riding on the back of Adrian Peterson.

See, while I think the Defensive Secondary improved, the Linebacker corps took a step backwards. Meanwhile, the D-Line got a year older, and while the new guys up front had some good games, we're going to approach the tipping point soon where Williams and Allan's skill levels decline beyond where the new guys ability levels rise.

On Offense, all we had was Peterson. IMHO, the Offense was ENTIRELY based upon Peterson. Remove AP from the equation, and we have a HORRIBLE offense. Without the ability to have any real kind of passing game, the Vikings eliminate themselves from serious contention for a Championship.

And, IMHO, that Offensive failing starts with Frazier and Musgrave. Yes, a large part of it is the complete lack of talent at the WR position as well as the question mark at QB, but it comes back to Frazier/Musgrave every time.

Frazier/Musgrave DID make improvements on the O-line...but that, coupled with AP, doesn't get it done. They MUST develop a vertical threat for us to be contenders.

Meanwhile, the Defense needs to play at a higher level - especially at LB (Minus Greenway).

Once THAT happens, we'll be on our way to a "successful" season.

Caine

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We had a seven game improvement from the previous season. That is improvement.

Having a 2000 yard rusher and making the playoffs might not define success, but it's also pretty friggin cool. Only The 84 Rams (ED), 98 Broncos (TD), 03 Ravens (Jamal Lewis) and 2012 Vikings (All Day baby!) have ever done that. Even though only the Broncos won the Superbowl, I'm almost certain the Rams and Ravens fans don't look back to those seasons and think 'good riddance.'

I don' know if I consider this season successful. Exceeding expectations could be one form of success I guess. But I hate the fact that we're going into next season with another unsure QB situation. How "successful" can a team be when they're unsure of the most important position.

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Originally Posted by iowa

It's all just entertainment for me.As long as the Vikes are competitive and fun to watch I'm happy.Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see them get a ring but in reality only one team per year gets one so our chances aren't that good to start with, 1 out of 32 ain't that great.If you're going to get all bent out of shape cuz they don't win the super bowl you might want to find something else to occupy your time.I'm into musky fishing and bow hunting as well and it's the same deal, it's all about the hunt, not the "kill".

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That's a healthy perspective. It is only entertainment. I don't use the term "we" when refering to the Vikings. I don't measure my self worth based on how the team I support does.
I enjoy seeing them win but it doesn't make me a winner !
Nor does it make me a loser if the team loses.

The 1998 Vikings may have been the best ever. I consider that season a failure. They under achieved.

This years team I consider a success. They exceeded expectation and appear to be on the rise.

I long to see a superbowl championship but if it is not to be I have enjoyed some amazing football along the way.

It's not personal. It's just football.