Minnesota Vikings: A Season Lost, Chances of the Vikings Making History

The Minnesota Vikings have a very good chance of making history. For many Vikings fans, they hope is doesn't happen.

The last time Minnesota was this bad they were led by Les Steckel, the promoted wide receiver coach in 1984.

Steckel, who replaced the legendary Bud Grant, only needed one year to demonstrate he was incapable of coaching in the NFL. After leading the Vikings to a franchise-worse 3-13 record, he was quickly dispatched and Grant would come out of retirement to coach the Vikings for the 1985 season. 

Perhaps Grant, who still has an office within the team headquarters, could be coaxed to coach again? There's no way he could do any worse than Leslie Frazier and his regime.

Frazier needs to win at least one of the three remaining games in order to avoid setting a new low in Vikings franchise history—two wins if he wants to avoid being associated with the Steckel debacle.

Early in the season it should have been obvious that this was a special team. With the roster at full strength, the Vikings would give away a total first half lead of 54-7 in the first three games, and would lose all three after being outscored 67-6 in the second half.

With the ever increasing number of injuries as the season progressed it became apparent that roster depth was not a strength on this team—especially for the defensive backfield.

In a report from the Star Tribune this week, the Vikings are going to give Frazier at least another year to prove he is capable of turning the Vikings around. Somewhere, former head coach Brad Childress, who lead the Vikings to a 39-35 record over four-plus seasons, must be shaking his head.

With three games left in the 2011 season and little chance to capture the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft, Frazier would be wise to pull out the stops and avoid making history.

Here's a brief look at their remaining three games and their chances of winning at least one or two of them.

Week 15: New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings:

The Saints come into the Metrodome with a 10-3 record and in need of a win to help secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. With no chance to catch the Packers (who already defeated the Saints in the opening game of the season), they need to keep winning in order to earn the second seed in the NFC playoffs from San Francisco (10-3).

Closing out the season with two home games against the Atlanta Falcons and the unpredictable Carolina Panthers, this represents the easiest game on their schedule. 

Quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints will be ready to dominate.

There's absolutely no chance of the Vikings winning this game, leaving only two chances for Frazier.

Saints - 45

Vikings - 19

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Redskins:

Since 2000 the Vikings and Redskins have played four games to a 2-2 record. In 2010, Frazier made his NFL coaching debut in Week 12 with a 17-13 victory in Washington.

At the beginning of the season, this looked liked a very interesting matchup, given the return of Donovan McNabb to the team that benched him in favor of Rex Grossman late in the season.

While both teams finished 2010 with a 6-10 record and while neither of these teams are going anywhere in 2011, the Redskins (currently at 4-9) still have an opportunity to improve from last season.

Incredibly, the Redskins quarterbacks, Grossman and John Beck (73.1), have a lower combined passer rating than McNabb, Christian Ponder and Joe Webb for the Vikings (77.0).

Sure, the Washington quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions (20) than the Vikings (13), but the Redskin defense has more interceptions than the Vikings.

The Vikings should be able to win this game, but they keep finding ways to lose games where they should win.

Vikings - 17

Redskins - 21

The best Frazier can do is tie the record for single-season futility.

Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings close out the season hosting the Bears on New Year's Day. The key for the Vikings to avenge a Week 6 loss in Chicago will be whether or not quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte play.

Forte suffered a sprain to the MCL in his right knee in Week 13 against the Chiefs. Cutler suffered a broken thumb two weeks earlier in a win over the Chargers.

Since then the Bears have gone 0-3 and slipped to third (and pretty much out of the playoff picture) in the NFC North.

If the Bears proceed cautiously and play with nothing to gain by pushing the return of either player, the Vikings could get their only win within the division and finish the season at 3-13.

Odds are there will be a New Year's Eve party somewhere and one or more Vikings player will be arrested on a DUI charge, leaving the team short-handed.

Bears - 13

Vikings - 9

Minnesota finishes 2-14. History is made!

If Bud decides to pass on a third stint of coaching the Vikings, perhaps the Vikings could encourage Childress to come back in 2012 for one more season.