Entering 2017, head coach Mike Zimmer's Minnesota Vikings were looking to reset after a frustrating 8-8 campaign. Offseason moves reinforced the offense, adding left tackle Riley Reiff, fellow tackle Mike Remmers, running back Latavius Murray, and drafting rookie back Dalvin Cook. What followed was a magical 13-3 season, capturing the NFC North crown and securing the conference's second seed. Despite losing starting quarterback Sam Bradford after a dazzling Week 1 win and losing Cook to a knee injury in Week 4, Minnesota steamrolled through the regular season on the back of relentless defense and an improbable quarterback resurgence.

After Bradford went down, journeyman Case Keenum stepped into the starter's role and played the football of his life. Keenum completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, with just 8 interceptions. His top target, wide receiver Adam Thielen, put up a breakout 91-catch, 1,276-yard campaign, while Stefon Diggs added 849 yards and 8 touchdown catches in 14 games. Ground duties were split effectively between Murray who rushed for 842 rushing yards and 8 TDs and Jerick McKinnon who added 570 rushing yards to go along with his 421 receiving yards, driving an offense that finished 10th in scoring with 382 points (23.9 ppg) and 11th in total yards (5,710).

While the offense produced timely plays, the defense carried the team to elite status. Minnesota fielded the NFL's number one scoring defense surrendering just 252 points (15.8 ppg) and total defense with 4,415 yards allowed. The defensive line was anchored by defensive end Everson Griffen, who generated 13.0 sacks, alongside stout tackle Linval Joseph and end Danielle Hunter who added 7.0 sacks. Linebacker Eric Kendricks led the team with 113 tackles, while free safety Harrison Smith and shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes both earned First-Team All-Pro selections, locking down opposing passing attacks with rare precision.

Minnesota's season gained real momentum during an eight-game winning streak from Week 5 through Week 13. A pivotal 23-10 home victory over Green Bay in Week 6 saw Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers break his collarbone, fundamentally altering the division race. The Vikings kept rolling, proving their mettle with grueling road wins over playoff teams like the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13. Aside from a minor road misstep against Carolina in Week 14, Zimmer's squad closed the regular season with three straight victories to secure a first-round playoff bye.

In the Divisional Round, the Vikings authored one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, defeating New Orleans 29-24 on Diggs' game-winning 61-yard touchdown catch as time expired, forever etched as the 'Minneapolis Miracle.' Although the dream of playing a home Super Bowl ended in a painful 38-7 NFC Championship defeat to Philadelphia, the 2017 campaign remains a landmark year. Smith and Rhodes cemented their status among the league's defensive elite, while Keenum's career-defining magical run provided Minnesota fans with one of the most thrilling seasons in franchise history.