Will the sixth time be a charm?
Since bringing Houston back into the NFL universe in 2002, the Houston Texans have never beaten two teams. One is the Philadelphia Eagles, who have never lost to a Houston NFL team. The other is the Vikings. Prior to this Sunday, the Vikings hold a 5-0 record against Houston. Some of those loses, even to a non-conference foe, have special resonance within the history of the Houston franchise, as they either sparked the downfall of a strong run or the end of a coaching regime.
Oct 10, 2004: Minnesota 34- Houston 28 (OT)
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
The first matchup between these two teams and arguably the best. Minnesota, helmed by Daunte Culpepper, came into this matchup eager to get back to the heights of their late 1990s teams. Meanwhile, Houston looked to continue its upward accent in its 3rd year. If nothing else, this game didn’t lack for excitement. On a day that would see over 900 yards combined offense, Minnesota jumped up to a 21-0 lead. For a team that won primarily with defense, this didn’t auger well for Houston. Enter Andre Johnson. The second year receiver had one of his best games (12 receptions for 170 yards and two TDs). The fourth quarter saw Johnson, David Carr, and the passing game kick into high gear, tying the game at 28 at the two minute warning on a Carr 22 yard TD pass. Unfortunately, the good vibes from the fourth quarter didn’t hold, as Minnesota scored on a walk-off 50 yard TD in overtime. This dropped Houston to a disappointing 2-3, but the squad managed to hit its best season to that point at 7-9. Minnesota moved to 3-1, eventually getting to 5-1, but fell back to earth, entering the playoffs at 8-8. They beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau, only to fall to the Eagles in the divisional round.
November 2, 2008: Houston 21- Minnesota 28
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The Texans were in the third year of the Kubiak regime, and while showing improvement, they had yet to achieve a winning record. The Vikings introduced Houston to their new franchise player, RB Adrian Peterson. Houston came into this matchup without a road win. They left still winless on the road. Minnesota scored first, and after a first quarter Houston pick-six tied it at seven, Minnesota took control 21-7, capitalizing on two Matt Schaub turnovers (interception, strip sack). At the half, Sage Rosenfels replaced Schuab and cut the deficit to 21-14. However, a Rosenfels interception set up Minnesota to go up 28-14. Houston later cut the deficit to seven, and even got the onside kick recovery inside of two minutes. However, back-to-back Jared Allen sacks ended the game in the Vikings’ favor. Peterson gashed Houston for 139 yards and a TD on the ground, while Gus Frerotte completed three of his 11 passes for TDs. Houston actually outgained the Vikings in yardage, but lost the turnover battle 3-1. Owen Daniels led the Texans with 11 receptions for 133 yards. Houston fell to 3-5 at the time, but rallied to finished with yet another 8-8 Kubiak special. The Vikings moved to 4-4, and parlayed that win to a 10-6 Wild Card finish, and another loss to the Eagles.
December 23, 2012: Minnesota 23- Houston 6
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
This was one of those critical franchise moments for Houston. A previous article on this site discusses the implications of a Houston victory. Houston came into this matchup with the chance to wrap up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Minnesota came into this matchup on the legs of Adrian Peterson, as he continued his quest for 2,000 yards. Houston contained Peterson (88 yards rushing). However, Christian Ponder did enough in the passing game and the Viking defense held the Houston attack in check. After this letdown loss, Houston lost the following week at Indy, going from the #1 to #3 seed and after its mandatory win over the Bengals, fell to the Patriots in the Division Round. The Vikings rode league MVP Peterson to a wild-card berth and but losing Ponder right before the Wild Card round left the Vikings sitting ducks in a 24-10 Wild Card loss.
October 9, 2016: Houston 13- Minnesota 31
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
This game was a solid beatdown on the part of Minnesota. Sam Bradford gashed Houston for 271 yards and two TDs, 127 of those yards and a TDs going to Adam Thielen. Houston fell behind 24-6 at the half, with the Viking defense stifling Osweiler, the running game offered nothing to off-set the struggling passing game, and Houston’s special teams played down to their 2010s reputation. This sent the Vikings into their bye 5-0. Unfortunately for them, that was the highpoint of the year. The Vikings became part of that special group of teams that started 5-0 and missed the playoffs at 8-8. As for the Texans, the defense did enough to get the Texans another AFC South crown, another Wild Card home win (over the hapless Raiders), and another Patriots playoff beating.
October 4, 2020: Minnesota 31 – Houston 23
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Yet another game where losing to the Vikings altered the course of franchise history. Both teams, harboring playoff expectations, came into the matchup winless. For Houston, it had been a season thus far, between the pandemic and reports of organizational dysfunction. Bill O’Brien likely knew he was coaching for his job. Unfortunately, Minnesota took advantage of Houston’s porous defense, with Kirk Cousins carving up the Texans defense by air (16 of 22 for 260 yards and 1 TD) and Dalvin Cook running over the Texans by ground (27 carries for 130 yards and 2 TDs). Houston trailed 31-16 early in the 4th quarter, but Watson rallied to cut the deficit to eight with under six minutes left. After a rare defensive stop, Houston drove down the field and with 1:12 left in the game, Watson thought he connected with Will Fuller on a fourth and goal from the Vikings 5-yard line to cut the margin to two. Yet the replay showed that Fuller did not maintain control of the ball on his one-handed catch attempt. This loss sealed BO’B’s fate, as the team fired him the next day. The Texans won the following week, but cratered to 4-12 and entered the darkest period in franchise history. As for the Vikings, they rallied to 6-6, but lost three of their last four to also miss the playoffs.
Of note:
- The Texans only ever held the lead in any of the matchups once (2012), and that was a 3-0 lead for 4:31;
- Outside of the 1st quarter, the Texans only ever tied with Minnesota for two minutes + OT in 2004 and for 37 seconds into the second quarter in 2008;
- In every single game, the Vikings held at least a 14-point lead;
- A Houston-based NFL team last beat the Minnesota Vikings in 1992, when the Houston Oilers beat the Vikings 17-13. Against the Houston the Oilers, the Vikings never won in the city of Houston (0-3), but those Oilers never won in Minnesota (0-4).
While past results do not guarantee future results, Minnesota remains one of those teams that Houston just can’t seem to overcome. Might it end differently? Will Stroud, armed with Viking alum Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs, overcome this hurdle to franchise success? Or, will the Vikings armed with their own Texans alum in Jonathan Greenard, do what they always do and beat the Texans? Maybe it isn’t in primetime, but it should be worth the time to watch.