The Vikings 30-12 victory against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football was filled with enough tributes and recognitions both on and off the field to span three different decades.
Starting with the 1990s, the biggest – and undoubtedly, most important – tribute was for Vikings Legend Randy Moss. After sharing earlier this month that he was dealing with a health issue, the Hall of Fame receiver announced on Friday he underwent a successful surgery to treat a cancer diagnosis. Vikings Legends Cris Carter and Jake Reed honored their former teammate by carrying Moss' jersey to midfield during the pre-game coin toss.
The tributes for Moss didn't stop there, as Justin Jefferson yelled "We love you, Randy. That's for you!" after hauling in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold in the first quarter. Jefferson also donned a custom shirt while talking to reporters postgame that looked similar to a 2000 Vikings jersey worn by Moss, with the team's 40th season patch added on to complete the look.
Minnesota's seventh consecutive victory also pays homage to the 1998 team that Moss, Carter and Reed were a part of, as this season is just the sixth instance in franchise history and the first since that year in which the Vikings have earned 12 or more wins in 14 games played (the 1998 team went 13-1).
The Vikings also tipped their caps and white Winter Warrior helmets to the 1960s, as the first season Minnesota earned 12 or more wins in just 14 games came in 1969, with the Vikings going 12-2 in the late Bud Grant's third season as the team's head coach. Coincidentally, that season also featured a win streak of seven or more games (12), and it was the only other time Minnesota has opened a season at the New York Giants.
Lastly, the Vikings accomplished something on Monday they haven't done since the late 2000s. Although this season is the 25th time in team history that Minnesota has played three consecutive home games in a season, it's just the 10th time in franchise history and the first since 2009 that the Vikings have won all three of those consecutive home matchups.
What started each of those decades you might ask?
In 1961, the first Vikings win in franchise history was at home against Chicago, in a 37-13 final where Minnesota scored the first 10 points of the game, just as it did on Monday.
In 1990, American rap artist Vanilla Ice rose to fame with his debut album "To the Extreme", which included his hit single "Ice Ice Baby." Vanilla Ice performed that song and more during his halftime show at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday.
And in 2001, the Minnesota Twins drafted Joe Mauer with the first overall pick. Mauer – a St. Paul native who played his entire 15-year Major League Baseball career in Minnesota and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this past July – sounded the Gjallarhorn and led the SKOL Chant before Monday's game.
The win also propelled Minnesota into a three-way tie with Detroit and Philadelphia in the NFC standings at 12-2 and kept the Vikings near the top in this week's Power Rankings. Here's where the Vikings rank going into Week 16:
No. 5 (no change): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The defense set the tone in the first half with two turnovers on downs and a strip sack by Jonathan Greenard that sent a tremor through U.S. Bank Stadium, and the offense scored after all three stops, giving Minnesota the 13-0 halftime lead. Chicago kept hanging around in spite of the mistakes, as Sam Darnold threw a second-quarter pick and found himself in a third-quarter funk. But Darnold ripped a beautiful pass to Justin Jefferson to set up the Aaron Jones touchdown, and the Vikings cruised from there. This was another statement victory against a team Minnesota dawdled around against (and almost lost to) in Chicago. It was also the Vikes seventh straight win, giving them more positive momentum heading into the tough final slate: at Seattle, vs. Green Bay, at Detroit. With Detroit ailing and the top seed still within reach, Minnesota's confidence has to be soaring.
No. 5 (down 1 spot): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report
Things have gotten very interesting for the Minnesota Vikings – in more than one way.
Not only did Monday's win over the Chicago Bears pull the Vikings into a virtual tie atop the NFC North with a massive Week 18 matchup in Detroit looming on the schedule, but once Minnesota's playoff run ends, the team has to figure out what to do with quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold was supposed to just be a placeholder – a bridge to the injured J.J. McCarthy. But as star wideout Justin Jefferson told reporters, Darnold has been much more than that.
He has been a franchise quarterback.
"He definitely has that strong arm," Jefferson said, "to just be able to fit those throws into tight windows and just be able to run those deep throws and be able to take the top off defenses. Those are things that defenses got to respect. We feel like the whole playbook is kind of open toward Sam being able to throw it all across the field."
If Darnold can navigate a three-game gauntlet to end the season that includes games with the Packers and Lions, it's going to be difficult to justify kicking him to the curb.
No. 5 (down 1 spot): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
It was a little disjointed against the Bears, but [the Vikings] just keep on winning. They face a tough road game at Seattle this week as they eye the potential division title.
No. 5 (no change): Nate Davis, USA Today
Like the Lions, [the Vikings] also control their path to the NFC North crown – one that could end with a winner-take-all game at Detroit in Week 18 … and the way things are trending, the Vikes, who have won seven in a row, look increasingly poised to pillage.
No. 5 (down 2 spots): Josh Kendall, The Athletic
Jefferson is second in the league in receiving with 1,243 yards. He has topped 1,000 yards every season of his career and has a good chance to get past 1,500 for the third time in five seasons. This is why the Vikings gave him $110 million in guaranteed money in a four-year extension this summer.
No. 5 (down 1 spot): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated
A fitting tribute from Justin Jefferson, Cris Carter, Jake Reed and all manner of Vikings to the legend Randy Moss on Monday Night Football. Get well soon.
No. 5 (down 2 spots): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Vikings moved into a tie with the Lions by extending their winning streak to seven with a home win over the Bears on Monday night. Minnesota is rolling with its signature passing game and keeps getting what it needs from the attacking defense.
No. 5 (no change): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports
The Vikings took a 10-0 lead and hit cruise control, knowing the defense wasn't going to give the Bears too much. It wasn't the prettiest game, but a 12-2 record is impressive.
