Although the Vikings had an undefeated season, it was far from easy. None of their victories were handed to them, and they had to overcome many setbacks throughout the season.

Early season challenges

The Vikings faced bad luck with injuries early on. In Week 1, their American wide receiver, Weston Carr, was injured and couldn't contribute to the team for the rest of the season. Luckily, Jordan Bouah and, starting from Game 2, Reece Horn, stepped up to fill the gap left by Carr. However, in Game 3, the Vikings faced another major challenge with the injury of their quarterback, Ben Holmes. Despite this, the Vikings rose to the occasion and managed to defeat the Panthers with their homegrown quarterback, thanks to a fantastic defensive performance.

Bad luck follows the Vikings

Even after replacing Ben Holmes with quarterback Shelton Eppler, the team found the right person for the job. Eppler led the team to two wins, one of which was against a strong Berlin Thunder team. Ben Holmes returned in Week 6, but the team lost key players like Jordan Bouah, Hunter Nichols, and Exavier Edwards at the same time. Many homegrown talents also had to miss a few games, so it wasn’t until the semifinals against the Paris Musketeers that almost all Vikings players were available.

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Vikings prove the critics wrong

Critics repeatedly questioned the Vikings' ability to compete with other conference champions like Rhein Fire and Stuttgart Surge. However, in the semifinals, the Vikings showed everyone just how good they are. With a 47-31 victory against the Paris Musketeers, they proved they can compete at the highest level. The final against Rhein Fire promises to be a great game, and after their semifinal performance, the Vikings have high hopes.

Vienna delivers

Despite all the setbacks and the need to integrate new players, Head Coach Chris Calaycay's team always performed and won their games. The Vikings have the fourth-best scoring offense and the second-best defense in terms of points allowed. This highlights the incredible season the Vikings had and showcases the immense talent they possess, especially from their homegrown players.

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