The Vikings are 0-4 in Super Bowls, and that’s only part of the franchise’s tortured playoff history.
The team has not been back to the Super Bowl in 40 years, but has been painfully close.
Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Seahawks was the third recent Vikings playoff game to contain a jaw-dropping, momentum-shattering play that cost them a win.
Thanks to NumberFire for putting a number value on the heartbreak by calculating the win probabilities before and after each play.
2016 NFC wild-card game
Final: Seahawks 10, Vikings 9
Turning point: Blair Walsh misses a 27-yard field goal with 26 seconds left. Walsh had made field goals of 22, 47 and 43 yards in the frigid Minnesota cold, but shanked the chip shot that would have given the Vikings the lead in the closing seconds. Laces out, Dan!
Win probability: 83.68 percent before the play, 0.2 percent after
Explanation via NumberFire: With a made field goal, the Seahawks still would have about 20 seconds to drive down the field, only needing a field goal to win it. So a made kick would not necessarily clinch the game.
2010 NFC Championship game
Final: Saints 31, Vikings 28, OT
Turning point: Brett Favre’s interception with 19 seconds left. Favre had the Vikings on the move at the Saints’ 38 when he took a ridiculous chance throwing over the middle, and the pass was intercepted. Instead of the Vikings having a chance with a Ryan Longwell boot at the end of regulation, the Saints would win in overtime on their way to a Super Bowl XLIV triumph.
Win probability: 73.42 percent to 38.29 percent
Explanation via NumberFire: The Vikings were on the edge of field goal range in a tie game, so a field goal was far from a guarantee. The Saints intercepted it with a few seconds remaining and a small chance to win in regulation.
1999 NFC Championship game
Final: Falcons 30, Vikings 27, OT
Turning point: Gary Anderson misses 38-yard field goal with 2:12 left. Anderson had made all 39 field goals he attempted that season (playoffs included), and the kick would have given the Vikings a 10-point lead and all but assured Minnesota a trip to the Super Bowl. Instead, Chris Chandler drove the Falcons down the field for the tying touchdown and Atlanta won in overtime.
Win probability: 95.23 to 89.82 percent
Explanation via NumberFire: Minnesota was heavily favored, and after the miss, Atlanta was still down by 7. They needed to score a touchdown just to tie and then win in overtime.
Vikings fans have yet to get over it.