Vikings vs. Rams (Week 2, 1998) Classic Highlights

Randy Moss, in just his second career NFL game, travels with the Vikes to St. Louis to play the Rams, who are just one year away from becoming the greatest show on turf. But for now the blue and gold have Tony Banks behind center.
(All rights go to FOX, the NFL, & its broadcasters. I do not own the footage used in this video. No copyright infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only.)

[@dxc886]

Little did Rams fans know that the phrase "one yard short" would soon become music to their ears. Great video!

[@rampage1567]

Victorious Platypus made me mad XD

[@realthor89]

I was gonna post it , and saw your comment. I saw K Warner and the Prime I Bruce in this game for rams before there greatest show on turff, still think the Vikings topped that IMO

[@snakesupreme]

Let’s be real that 99 -2k Rams TEAM was awesome...but Moss as a individual was ALIEN

[@jayNicks10]

This was Robert Smiths best game of his career. A career high 179 Yards rushing with 2 TD’s including a career long 74 yard TD. But this game is more remembered as the game Johnson got hurt and Cunningham took over.

[@alcopower5710]

Jay Nicks .....Smith was a beast

[@deanladue3151]

When he got into the backfield untouched and at full speed, no one could catch him.

[@jdbly5934]

@@deanladue3151 Yep, they couldn't even catch him when he ran out of his own shoe against the Steelers.

[@supervike1]

Robert Smith never looked like he was running....it was all gliding. One of the best. Also....Robert Griffith dropping that game ending pick seemed to echo later in this season as well.

[@tedsexton5406]

Not only "later in the season" in the Championship game. Great player-- but you could count on him to drop a pick every 3 games.

[@deanladue3151]

In the NFC Playoff matchup Coach Vermiel told the defense if the Rams were going to beat the Vikings, they HAD to shut down Robert Smith. Enough said.

[@haydenmedley]

I just saw Randy Moss go in motion, motion back to the spot and pass block ... twice. I'm shook.

[@stevecowder4774]

Always did enjoy watching these 2 teams collide. An old rivalry, stemming out of the early seventies that featured many great battles. But as good as those teams were, they were never able to win the ultimate prize. And even today, the Vikings still have not. If there were ever a time, that ‘98 squad most definitely should have been the one to capture a Super Bowl title.

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

The highlights proved this game was a barn burner and a half!

[@shormarl]

35 yr old Randall Cunningham, filling in for the injured Brad Johnson, would play in every game the rest of that year, started most all of them. 3,704 yards, 34 TD, 10 INT , 106.0 passer rating.

[@joshnelson7210]

Funny seeing Kurt Warner on the sidelines, backing up Tony Banks...

[@jayNicks10]

Josh Nelson heck. He wasn’t even backing up Tony Banks. He was the 3rd strong QB FGS!!

[@lertmelernyers8672]

He was backing up bono

[@deanladue3151]

@@lertmelernyers8672 at the end of the game, you can see Johnson and Warner having a conversation. They both played in the old NFL Europe League and were probably teammates at some point.

[@fehner27]

How is Isaac Bruce not in the Hall of Fame yet? Great player

[@alcopower5710]

He is now

[@Skazellino]

1998, still my favorite season. 2009 being a close 2nd.

[@goosekhangaming1716]

Brings back great memories...This was my fav season ever as a Vikes fan. Robert Smith was awesome. I remember seeing him throw up on the sidelines numerous times during the season cuz he was goin all-out. Cris Carter moved the chains. Great offensive line. And oh yeah... The freak Randy Moss destroying teams. SKOL!!!

[@ronward3949]

Robert Smith what heart and play!!

[@morleysobol6656]

Robert Griffith dropping an interception with a chance to close out the game was a foreshadowing of what was to come vs. Atlanta in the Championship Game.

[@Enigma71559]

You know, that is just a reminder. EVERYONE blames that loss on Gary Anderson's miss. SO many other plays that were part of the Vikings letting that one get away.

[@tedlicious]

I love him, but I always blamed Griffith for the loss more than Anderson. He dropped 2 picks that game and either one would have iced it.

[@Enigma71559]

@@tedlicious Agreed. Griff was one of those DBs that was always focused more on making the big hit than playing the ball. Cost the team BIG time in that game!

[@scoobycarr5558]

One of the Bears defenders in week one (2018) did a Robert Griffith in Green Bay - and it led to the Packers beating the Bears.

[@scoobycarr5558]

Mr. Anderson, I think you're off the hook in this one. Don't blame yourself on the Vikings' loss to the Falcons. Robert Griffith is the a number one scapegoat.

[@SwitcherooU]

I can't believe how many interceptions QBs threw back in the day. It was just part of the game. Now, the top QBs go multiple games without throwing ONE.

[@CamberRockerCamber]

Maybe it's the rules or maybe QBs have just gotten better but as each season goes by there's more and more QBs throwing 25+ tds with 9 or less ints in a season. I think there were about 7-9 qbs that accomplished that this past season. Back in the day if a QB had more than 25tds they were most likely throwing over 10 ints too.

[@hilltop565]

Because the games are more scripted now than ever

[@skwira000]

@@CamberRockerCamber I think it's because the NFL is more dink and dunk. Some how this game you see the Vikings throw some dump off passes. But watch the Lions game in Detroit. Watch the AFC Championship Game for the 1997 season between the Broncos and Steelers. Every pass it seems went beyond 10 yards. It seems like the 1999 Rams took the 1998 Vikings strategy of 3 and sometimes 4 WRs on 1st down but then dinked and dunk more and if you came up to defend the short pass, they would just burn you deep.

[@bwill613]

Who would have thought that one year later, Kurt Warner, who was a third string QB behind Tony Banks and Steve Bono during the 1998 season, would replace Trent Green after he suffered a preseason injury that ended his season, and lead the Rams to one of their greatest seasons in their history with an explosive offense known as The Greatest Show on Turf with Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt, and Az Hakim who would go on to win the Super Bowl. They also got their revenge against the Vikings in the playoffs that year as well.

[@kargs5krun]

Tks 4 uploading this. Many Vike fans all over the states didn't get to see the Vikings, wk in wk out like MN folk probably did. I was one of them. Rams always/often strike concern for me when Vikes play them but surprisingly we tend to do well vs. them (usually) win or lose. (wins most often) Strangely, i didn't remember Brad J. "struggling" this much early on in two games of '98. I noted his "footwork" this game & the Bucs game (1st game), and didn't like what i saw. Can say the same about Fuller's play as well. (disappointing) Griffith had a career day but should of had that easy pick at the end. Vikings were very lucky time ran out on the Rams here. Issac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Az Hakim would "light up" the Vikes a year later, worse than what we saw here. (oh & M. Faulk too; courtesy of Kurt Warner) Interesting sidenote: Ran into Leroy Hoard at a gym in FL about 2 yrs+ ago and we disagreed on the importance of the OL in team offense success/sustainability/etc., both in general and re: the Vikes "great" OL-men during his time there. (I was "pro," he was "con;" won't repeat all that was said....) Believe we had quite a few all-pro OL-men back then that we SURE COULD USE NOW. Been telling newbie/opinionated vike fans that for yrs. Believe Cousins would sure like it too. Wish i could get Zim's ear....like an owner/mgr would, that is. Used to be if you didn't make the playoffs, or go far in them, you wouldn't have a job for very long but i dont get the vibe from Wilf & Co. these days. Sad. Because methinks you need a fire under a lot of butts the NFL, coaches included...o/wise you "go soft." But who knows, maybe they'll get lucky in spite of their OL depth/talent situation for upcoming season. Again, tks for uploading this season, game by game. For this was "The Season" that should've been, Bronco's vs. Vikings SB, a better SB than what Atlanta brought. But it was, what it was. 🙄😵😢

[@deanladue3151]

When you have a couple of dome teams playing each other, that's usually what the final score looks like. Noticed Brad Johnson having a chat with Kurt Warner at the end, being that they both played in the NFL Europe League. Think they were teammates over there.

[@brovold72]

Never knew that!

[@Skazellino]

That was Steve Bono he was talking to.

[@Presidentenumerouno]

Classic days man!! Nfl theme music

[@JaxonSmithers]

Remember watching this game at a sports bar down in Louisville Ky, seems like last year but it was 24+ years ago, crazy. Little did we know how great that Rams team was.

[@dannyyang1202]

Thanks for the great memories!!! That year we cant hardly wait til Sunday comes.. go vikings!

[@ciscosvp2075]

The Rams and the Vikings need to go back to the uniforms...

[@Skazellino]

Rams still wear those from time to time but yea Minnesota absolutely needs to bring these Vikings unis back!

[@eddiecouture5804]

Cisco SVP I say that the Vikings 2012 jerseys are the best

[@scoobycarr5558]

I like all teams but the Slackers Say, I would like the Vikings to bring back their 2012 uniforms and a variation with gold digits that closely resembles the flag of the original Vikings' homeland of Sweden.

[@BTLAGS]

The vikings wear a variation of it just more modernized version. I like their 13-Present compared to their 06-12 uniforms those are ugly

[@Jimmy_Hopkins15]

@@BTLAGS i agree those unis were awfull they're much better now tho

[@gabrielclaussen1181]

Great highlights, keep up the good work

[@FrozenToews]

3:14 an early Dwayne Rudd helmet toss!!!

[@coletrickle1775]

Lol, that Belicheck Browns connection lol

[@realthor89]

Makes you think if its physcological when they do it , the S.Diggs Divisonal Playoffs Winner vs Saints in the best class of this manner.

[@deanladue3151]

By the end of the 2000 season, Dennis Green was fed up with him. Rudd was an unrestricted free agent, and the Vikings decided not to offer Rudd another contract, they let him walk.

[@tommorris3035]

Watching this in 2022 and it’s still awesome 👏

[@fantasticvoyage262]

This was a very dark time to be a Rams fan. Thankfully, this was the last year Banks was under center.

[@lukewinsor3048]

I wish they would make these throwback uniforms!

[@ronward3949]

Very Hot Stuff these Guys were BAD!! We miss you All!

[@ricklayeux5688]

Good game, thanks.

[@jayNicks10]

Thanks for posting this btw, I believe I posted a comment on the Vikings Packers 1996 game requesting this 5 months ago, Thanks, finally someone does it!

[@lertmelernyers8672]

These guys loved giving it to the other team

[@kennethheying7845]

You can see from all the 98 films. They relied on Anderson too many times.

[@jaronzennaiter]

Banks with a seemingly average 3 INT game.

[@chuckehresman5937]

A great game.As a Vikings fan,,,, that was a premature view of the rams.Good teams.Its not the same anymore.

[@Noah-ww5kx]

Can you imagine if the defense kept doleman and drafted sapp for 98?

[@bifftannen1598]

1 Yard Short!

[@erikhopkins9488]

Tony banks Number 12 Starting quarterback ...for the Minnesota vikings!

[@thenewthought86]

That move at 3:21 was vicious

[@Rockstopmotion]

Man that turf looks like it hurts

[@mcs7625]

Basically just concrete with thin carpeting over it. NFL fields have come a long way since astroturf.

[@stupidd6513]

One year later, the Rams would WIN because the Titans came up one...yard...short.

[@jeffrowisdabest]

2:51 Mike "The Tackle" Jones

[@misguidednuke2143]

Cunningham...wow

[@hivicar]

Johnson's telegraphing that flea flicker pass to CC at the top a nice reminder that we should be advancing still with QB play. By the way, the abundance of NFC brawls is gonna make 2nd half flexing pretty compelling.

[@heyitsme1534]

Those were some great Vikings team’s back then. Robert smith was definitely one of the elite RB’s of the league along side of the 2 greatest WR’s. If it weren’t for the packers the Vikings would have had a couple Super Bowl victories

[@speedyeagle2.25]

6:49

[@ckobo84]

Was there ever a worse starting quarterback then Tony Banks? I know there's been a lot of bad ones, but I've never seen one that just throws it to the other team so much.

[@kaybevang536]

Was Randall Cunningham hurt or did they started Brad instead until he was terrible ?

[@ethanleicester1199]

Kaybe Vang Brad Johnson was started. Remember Randall Cunningham was on tail end of his career

[@deanladue3151]

Cunningham was QB 2, Johnson suffered a lower leg fracture in the game. He had a tough time staying healthy in '98, when Johnson took over for an injured Cunningham vs the Saints he fractured his throwing hand on a Saints players helmet and was literally throwing balls left-handed. Probably the reason the Vikings chose to trade Johnson to Washington in 1999.

[@erikhopkins9488]

just waiting for the real documentary to be released. you know the one that reveals how the vikings got 💰💰💰💰💰 to blow the nfc title game!

[@fearless1024]

2:56 9:40

[@joerogaine7984]

Brad Johnson had a weak ass arm

[@goosekhangaming1716]

Yes, but he read defenses quickly and got rid of the ball quick to a spot. He was also very good at moving around in the pocket.

[@ckobo84]

Yeah he wasn't pretty, but effective. Had an overhead throwing motion that put almost no spin on the ball. His passes were always wobbly.