98 Vikings vs 09 Vikings- Too Close to Call

The similarities are striking.

A troubled, but uber-talented college play-maker slipping in the draft. A thought-to-be, over-the-hill gunslinger. A talent-laden, but in some spots young, offensive line. A strong running game. A bend, but don't break defense. A coach who "the People" love-to-hate. And a win, on Monday Night Football, over the arch-rival Packers... on the same date, no less!! And the Super Bowl is in Miami! Don't say Candyman in the mirror! Don't do it!

The '09 version of the Minnesota Vikings are beginning to remind us all of '98.

In '98, it was week 2. An early season scare against the Tony Banks led Rams, in St. Louis, almost derailed the Vikings promising start. The Rams clawed back to tie the game at 31, just before Randall Cunningham hit Chris Carter for a 19 yard score to seal the 38-31 victory.
'09, week 3, Brett Favre led an improbable last-minute scoring drive before hitting journeyman Greg Lewis in the back of the end-zone for a last-second, last-play touchdown to seal the victory over the SF 49ers.

In '98, it was week 5, Monday Night Football in Green Bay. Randy Moss' coming-out-party. Both the Vikings and the Packers were 4-0, and the Packers were defending NFC Champs. The Vikings chased Favre out of the game and completely beat-down the Packers, 37-24. Randy Moss tore it up as he ended up with 5 catches for 190 yards and 2 TD's(52 and 44 yards, respectively).
'09, week 4. Monday Night Football in Minnesota. Brett Favre, now a Viking throws 3 TDs in beating his former team, 30-23. I realize that the venue isn't the same, nor the week, but the eerie thing is that both games were played on October 5th! Spooky, I know!

Looking back to the Minnesota Vikings schedule from '98, I noticed that that team, too, was 7-1. I really didn't even have to look back. The feelings from 1998 will forever be ingrained. I knew before looking that the Vikes lost their 8th game of the season to the Buccaneers, in Tampa, 27-24. I even remember the first play (or was it the second?) being a 7-yard comeback to Moss(on the right side) and me thinking it looked too easy; another win for the Vikes. It wasn't to be that day, but the Vikes didn't lose again until January- in a game that will forever be- the hardest loss of my life.

So it got me thinking... would the '09 Vikings beat the '98 Vikings? Being that the '98 Vikings are arguably the best Vikings team in Vikings history, how does the '09 version stack up? People are talking Super Bowl, Baby! But please, no "Going to Miami" remakes just yet. Karma's a bitch, you know.

Consider this your lucky day! I'm gonna break down each position, or position group, to decide which team would come out on top. Here we go:

QB- Randall Cunningham vs Brett Favre

Stats:

Cunningham threw for 3704 yards, 34 TDs and 10 INTs. QB rating was 106. He also led the '98 Vikings to the most points scored in NFL history(a record at the time).
Through 8 games, of which he only played 6 of those (and a quarter against St. Louis), he threw for 1718 yards, 16 TDs and 3 INTs. He completed 62% of his passes.

Favre, through 8 games has thrown for 1925 yards, 16 TDs and 3 INTs(SPOOKY!). He's completed 68% of his passes and has a QB rating of 106.

The QB winner is... Favre. Just because Cunningham had just as good of numbers, in 2 less games, doesn't hide the fact that his receivers were insane. In fact, that's the reason his numbers were All-Pro like. Favre is dealing with much less and getting the same result. I loved Cunningham, but his receivers made him. Favre's making his receivers. That's the difference. And that's a fact, Jack. Don't believe me? See Dante Culpepper...

Running Back- Adrian Peterson vs Robert Smith

It's easy to want to shout, without hesitation, "AP"! Believe me, I feel the same way. He's a beast! But check out these numbers! It's crazy how similar through 8 games:

Stats:

AP- 163 carries- 784 yards(4.8 avg) 9 TDs, 64 his long, 19 catches- 189 yards 0 TDs
Smith- 156 carries-745 yards(4.8 avg) 5 TDs, 74 his long, 20 catches- 212 yards 2 TDs

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