This may not be a bold statement

Or maybe it is, since the '98 Vikings went 15-1, but this is the best Vikings team I've ever seen. I feel confident in saying that after today. That '98 team had one of the best, most dynamic offenses in NFL history, but it also had a fatal flaw; it wasn't very good on defense. That team's defense took advantage of the opponent getting behind early, which allowed Jimmy Hitchcock to intercept 7 passes. But when push came to shove, they couldn't stop Atlanta. Chris Chandler led an 80 yard drive to tie the NFC Championship Game, and then took Atlanta down the field to win the game in OT.

This team's defense, in an understatement, is better. This defense can win a Super Bowl; they rush the passer, stop the run and are even getting good secondary play without Antoine Winfield. There hasn't been a team yet to really take advantage of this, besides Baltimore (the first game that Winfield got injured). You need a good defense to win a Super Bowl, and this team has it.

What really separates this team, though, is that it also has a good offense. And good offense might also be an understatement; it might be great. Have I ever been more wrong about a player than I was about Favre? Probably not; he's been about 100X better than I thought he'd be. Peterson is actually not having that great of a season, but he's always dangerous. But then there's the developments in the receiving corps. Sidney Rice has zoomed right past becoming a good receiver and is a great receiver. Percy Harvin is impressive as well (another player I was wrong about). And Berrian was already a good receiver, and still is. Shiancoe became a good TE last season and has continued that. Chester Taylor is one of the league's better backup RBs. Understatement; this team has a lot of weapons.

So what is this team missing? The special teams are greatly improved. Ryan Longwell is a good, dependable kicker. Offense, defense, special teams? Check, check, check. The only weakness on this team is Childress' game management skills (he learned at the feet of Andy Reid, and it shows), but hopefully Favre's command of this offense will overwhelm that. I'm telling you, that '98 team was fantastic but the elephant in the room was always what would happen when the defense had to make a play. I no longer worry about that. Now my biggest worry is the head coach will challenge stupid plays, or punt on 4th and inches from the opponent's 40. It's a significant step forward. I think an NFC Championship Game between the Vikings and Saints would be a great game.