2002 Minnesota Vikings season

2002 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach Mike Tice
Home field Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record 6–10
Division place 2nd NFC North
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 2002 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League.

On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the sixth Head Coach in Vikings history. Tice was the third of the six Vikings head coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but was the first to have actually played for the Vikings. The Vikings dropped their opening game in Chicago 27–23 after blowing a 20–10 halftime lead.

Most games during the season were like that. They started out the games strong, but ended up struggling down the stretch. They were winless on the road in 2001 but did win two road games in 2002. They won in New Orleans 32–31 on a touchdown pass to Randy Moss and a two-point conversion with just a few seconds left on the clock in Week 15 and 38–36 in Detroit in Week 17. The team struggled to a 6–10 record but won their last three games.

Second-year running back Michael Bennett enjoyed a successful season, rushing for 1,296 yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the season.

Offseason

2002 Draft

Main article: 2002 NFL draft
=Pro Bowler
2002 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Choice Overall
177 Bryant McKinnieOffensive TackleMiami
2638Raonall SmithLinebackerWashington State
3570Willie OffordStrong SafetySouth Carolina
47105Brian WilliamsCornerbackNorth Carolina State
34132Ed Ta'amuOffensive GuardUtahCompensatory pick
56141Traded to the Cleveland Browns[a]
65177Nick RogersLinebackerGeorgia Tech
77218Chad BeasleyOffensive TackleVirginia Tech
^[a] Minnesota traded their 5th round selection (141st overall) to Cleveland for QB Spergon Wynn and RB Travis Prentice.

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance TV CT Time
1 September 8 at Chicago Bears L 23–27 Memorial Stadium 52,168 FOX 12:00pm
2 September 15 Buffalo Bills L 39–45 (OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,047 CBS 3:00pm
3 September 22 Carolina Panthers L 14–21 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,945 FOX 12:00pm
4 September 29 at Seattle Seahawks L 23–48 Seahawks Stadium 65,212 ESPN 7:30pm
5 Bye
6 October 13 Detroit Lions W 31–24 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,013 FOX 12:00pm
7 October 20 at New York Jets L 7–20 Giants Stadium 78,516 FOX 12:00pm
8 October 27 Chicago Bears W 25–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,122 FOX 12:00pm
9 November 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 24–38 Raymond James Stadium 65,667 FOX 12:00pm
10 November 10 New York Giants L 20–27 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,005 FOX 12:00pm
11 November 17 Green Bay Packers W 31–21 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,153 FOX 12:00pm
12 November 24 at New England Patriots L 17–24 Gillette Stadium 68,436 FOX 12:00pm
13 December 1 Atlanta Falcons L 24–30 (OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,947 FOX 12:00pm
14 December 8 at Green Bay Packers L 22–26 Lambeau Field 64,070 ESPN 7:30pm
15 December 15 at New Orleans Saints W 32–31 Louisiana Superdome 67,851 FOX 12:00pm
16 December 21 Miami Dolphins W 20–17 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,285 CBS 11:30am
17 December 29 at Detroit Lions W 38–36 Ford Field 60,233 FOX 12:00pm

Standings

NFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Green Bay Packers 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 398 328 L1
Minnesota Vikings 6 10 0 .375 4–2 5–7 390 442 W3
Chicago Bears 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 281 379 L2
Detroit Lions 3 13 0 .188 1–5 3–9 306 451 L8

Statistics

Coin flip before Minnesota's game at Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 9, November 3

Team leaders

Category Player(s) Value
Passing Yards Daunte Culpepper 3,853
Passing Touchdowns Daunte Culpepper 18
Rushing Yards Michael Bennett 1,296
Rushing Touchdowns Moe Williams 11
Receiving Yards Randy Moss 1,347
Receiving Touchdowns Randy Moss 7
Points Gary Anderson 90
Kickoff Return Yards Moe Williams 516
Punt Return Yards Nick Davis 190
TacklesGreg Biekert 101
Sacks Lance Johnstone 7
Interceptions Greg Biekert 4
Forced Fumbles Nick Rogers 3

League rankings

Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 32)
Passing Offense 3,685 Yards 230.3 YPG 9th
Rushing Offense 2,507 Yards 156.7 YPG 1st
Total Offense 6,192 Yards 387.0 YPG 2nd
Passing Defense 4,103 Yards 256.4 YPG 29th
Rushing Defense 1,666 Yards 104.1 YPG 10th
Total Defense 5,769 Yards 360.6 YPG 26th

Personnel

Staff

2002 Minnesota Vikings staff
Front Office

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator/Secondary – Willie Shaw
  • Linebackers – Brian Baker
  • Defensive Backfield – Chuck Knox, Jr.
  • Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Pete Bercich

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams – Jay Hayes

Strength and Conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Steve Wetzel
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Daryl Lawrence

[1]

Final roster

2002 Minnesota Vikings final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 49 Jeff Kostrewa TE


Rookies in italics
 53 Active, 9 Inactive, 1 Practice squad

References

  1. ↑ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Retrieved 2010-03-06.

External links

Media related to 2002 Minnesota Vikings season at Wikimedia Commons

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