Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have endured decades of euphoria followed by heartbreak since the team’s inception in 1961. From the Purple People Eaters to Gary Anderson to Stefon Diggs’ miracle, the Vikings have seen everything. Well, not everything. But we’ll get to that. Let’s dive into the Vikings’ playoff history.
*We’ll only consider appearances from the 1970 merger onward.
Minnesota Vikings Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2019
- Wild Card: Won 26-20 @ Saints
- Divisional Round: Lost 10-27 @ 49ers
- 2017
- Divisional Round: Won 29-24 vs. Saints
- Conference Championship: Lost 7-38 @ Eagles
- 2015
- Wild Card: Lost 9-10 vs. Seahawks
- 2012
- Wild Card: Lost 10-24 @ Packers
- 2009
- Divisional Round: Won 34-3 vs. Cowboys
- Conference Championship: Lost 28-31 @ Saints
- 2008
- Wild Card: Lost 14-26 @ Eagles
- 2004
- Wild Card: Won 31-17 @ Packers
- Divisional Round: Lost 14-27 @ Eagles
- 2000
- Divisional Round: Won 34-16 vs. Saints
- Conference Championship: Lost 0-41 @ Giants
- 1999
- Wild Card: Won 27-10 vs. Cowboys
- Divisional Round: Lost 37-49 @ Rams
- 1998
- Divisional Round: Won 41-21 vs. Cardinals
- Conference Championship: Lost 27-30 @ Falcons
- 1997
- Wild Card: Won 23-22 @ Giants
- Divisional Round: Lost 22-28 @ 49ers
- 1996
- Wild Card: Lost 15-40 @ Cowboys
- 1994
- Wild Card: Lost 18-35 vs. Bears
- 1993
- Wild Card: Lost 10-17 @ Giants
- 1992
- Wild Card: Lost 7-24 vs. Redskins
- 1989
- Divisional Round: Lost 13-41 @ 49ers
- 1988
- Wild Card: Won 28-17 vs. Rams
- Divisional Round: Lost 9-34 @ 49ers
- 1987
- Wild Card: Won 44-10 @ Saints
- Divisional Round: Won 36-24 @ 49ers
- Conference Championship: Lost 10-17 @ Redskins
- 1982
- Wild Card: Won 30-24 vs. Falcons
- Divisional Round: Lost 7-21 @ Redskins
- 1980
- Divisional Round: Lost 16-31 @ Eagles
- 1978
- Divisional Round: Lost 10-34 @ Rams
- 1977
- Divisional Round: Won 14-7 @ Rams
- Conference Championship: Lost 6-23 @ Cowboys
- 1976
- Divisional Round: Won 35-20 vs. Redskins
- Conference Championship: Won 24-13 vs. Rams
- Super Bowl: Lost 14-32 vs. Raiders
- 1975
- Divisional Round: Lost 14-17 vs. Cowboys
- 1974
- Divisional Round: Won 30-14 vs. Cardinals
- Conference Championship: Won 14-10 vs. Rams
- Super Bowl: Lost 6-16 vs. Steelers
- 1973
- Divisional Round: Won 27-20 vs. Redskins
- Conference Championship: Won 27-10 @ Cowboys
- Super Bowl: Lost 7-24 vs. Dolphins
- 1971
- Divisional Round: Lost 12-20 vs. Cowboys
- 1970
- Divisional Round: Lost 14-17 vs. 49ers
Vikings Playoff History FAQ
The Vikings have a storied playoff history that includes some of the most memorable moments from the NFL postseason. Let’s break down some of the highlights.
What’s the Vikings’ Playoff Win/Loss Record?
The Vikings have a 19-28 all-time record in the NFL postseason since the NFL’s 1970 merger. More than half of the team’s playoff wins occurred before the 1988 season.
How Many Times Have the Vikings Been to the Playoffs?
The Vikings have been to the playoffs 28 times since the 1970 merger (not including this year). The 1970s constituted Minnesota’s most fruitful decade in the NFL, as the team made the playoffs eight times (failing to qualify in only the 1972 and 1979 seasons) and reached a trio of Super Bowls. The Vikings secured seven of their 19 playoff victories in the ’70s.
How Many Super Bowl Appearances Do the Vikings Have?
Minnesota has reached the Super Bowl four times, with one occurring in 1969, before the merger. The other three appearances occurred during the 1973, 1974, and 1976 seasons, also known as the Purple People Eaters era.
Back then, the Vikings were led by a fearsome defense that obliterated opposing NFL attacks. The unit was led by NFL legends in Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Gary Larsen. Page was so dominant and vital to the Vikings’ defense that he became the first defensive player to win the NFL’s MVP Award.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Vikings Won?
Despite reaching a quartet of Super Bowls, the Vikings have never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. In fact, the team has never really been all that close, as its narrowest defeat came by a score of 10 points when Minnesota fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 6-16 on January 12, 1975, in Super Bowl IX.
In that game, Vikings legendary quarterback Fran Tarkenton completed just 11 of his 26 pass attempts for 102 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions. While Minnesota’s defense held strong for much of the game, as Pittsburgh compiled just two first-half points, Steelers stalwarts Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris eventually scored a touchdown apiece, leading Pittsburgh to victory.
When Was the Last Time the Vikings Made the Super Bowl?
The Vikings last made the Super Bowl in the 1976 season, when they fell short of a ring in a 14-32 loss to the Oakland Raiders. While Tarkenton and the offense improved slightly from their 1974 loss, the QB still completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes, connecting on 17-of-35 for 205 yards, one score, and two interceptions.
The Raiders, led by an efficient performance from QB Ken Stabler and over 130 yards on the ground from Clarence Davis, went up 19-7 by the end of the third quarter before pulling out of reach in the fourth. The Raiders’ win gave legendary coach John Madden a Super Bowl victory, cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Minnesota would return to the playoffs in each of the next two seasons but was knocked out before reaching another Super Bowl. The Vikings have reached the NFC Championship Game six times since the 1976 season, but they’ve fallen short each time.