2002 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
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The 2002 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 42nd in the National Football League, and the first under head coach Mike Tice. Tice was the third of the Vikings' six head coaches to be promoted from within the team's coaching ranks but the first to have actually played for the team.
| 2002 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Mike Tice |
| Home stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 6–10 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC North |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| All-Pros | DT Chris Hovan (2nd team) |
| Pro Bowlers | 2
|
| Uniform | |
| |
This for the first time since 1989, Cris Carter was not on the opening day roster. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
The Vikings lost their opening game in Chicago 27–23 after surrendering a 20–10 halftime lead, and ended up going 0–4 before their bye week. Results improved after the bye, but they ultimately went 6–6 in their remaining games, including a three-game winning streak to end the season. They finished the season with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Second-year running back Michael Bennett enjoyed a successful year, rushing for 1,296 yards, resulting in a Pro Bowl selection at the end of the season. After losing Cris Carter to retirement, Randy Moss had a career-high 106 receptions, but only had 7 touchdowns.
Offseason
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| WR Derrick Alexander (Chiefs) | T Brad Badger (Raiders) |
| WR D'Wayne Bates (Bears) | P Mitch Berger (Rams) |
| LB Greg Biekert (Raiders) | WR Cris Carter (Dolphins) |
| CB Corey Chavous (Cardinals) | CB Dale Carter (Saints) |
| LB Henri Crockett (Falcons) | WR Jake Reed (Saints) |
| DE Kenny Mixon (Dolphins) | LB Kailee Wong (Texans) |
| P Kyle Richardson (Ravens) | WR Troy Walters (Colts) |
| FS Ronnie Bradford (Falcons) | FS Robert Griffith (Browns) |
| DE Lorenzo Bromell (Dolphins) | CB Robert Tate (Ravens) |
| TE Hunter Goodwin (Dolphins) | CB Kenny Wright (Texans) |
| DE Chuck Wiley (Falcons) |
2002 draft
| Pro Bowler |
| 2002 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
| Round | Overall | ||||
| 1 | 7 | Bryant McKinnie | Offensive tackle | Miami (FL) | |
| 2 | 38 | Raonall Smith | Linebacker | Washington State | |
| 3 | 70 | Willie Offord | Safety | South Carolina | |
| 4 | 105 | Brian Williams | Cornerback | NC State | |
| 132 | Ed Ta'amu | Guard | Utah | Compensatory pick | |
| 5 | 141 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns[A] | |||
| 6 | 177 | Nick Rogers | Linebacker | Georgia Tech | |
| 7 | 218 | Chad Beasley | Offensive tackle | Virginia Tech | |
Notes:
- Minnesota traded their fifth-round selection (141st overall) to the Browns in exchange for QB Spergon Wynn and RB Travis Prentice.
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Allen | Running back | Iowa |
| Atrews Bell | Wide receiver | Florida State |
| Jack Brewer | Safety | Minnesota |
| Kelly Campbell | Wide receiver | Georgia Tech |
| Carlos Daniels | Running back | Western Illinois |
| Nick Davis | Wide receiver | Wisconsin |
| Todd France | Kicker | Toledo |
| Kyries Hebert | Safety | Louisiana–Lafayette |
| Shaun Hill | Quarterback | Maryland |
| Dane Krager | Linebacker | Angelo State |
| Devin Lewis | Wide receiver | Southern |
| Nick Murphy | Punter | Arizona State |
| Max Yates | Linebacker | Marshall |
Staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 10 | Cleveland Browns | L 15–27 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,532 | Recap |
| 2 | August 16 | at Buffalo Bills | W 24–21 | 1–1 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 47,027 | Recap |
| 3 | August 23 | Tennessee Titans | W 14–10 | 2–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,845 | Recap |
| 4 | August 29 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–17 | 2–2 | Heinz Field | 57,062 | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 1: Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 7 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 10
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,532
- Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Bills | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 21 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 3: Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Vikings | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 23
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,845
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8 | at Chicago Bears | L 23–27 | 0–1 | Memorial Stadium | 52,168 | Recap |
| 2 | September 15 | Buffalo Bills | L 39–45 (OT) | 0–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,047 | Recap |
| 3 | September 22 | Carolina Panthers | L 14–21 | 0–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,945 | Recap |
| 4 | September 29 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 23–48 | 0–4 | Seahawks Stadium | 65,212 | Recap |
| 5 | Bye | ||||||
| 6 | October 13 | Detroit Lions | W 31–24 | 1–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,013 | Recap |
| 7 | October 20 | at New York Jets | L 7–20 | 1–5 | Giants Stadium | 78,516 | Recap |
| 8 | October 27 | Chicago Bears | W 25–7 | 2–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,122 | Recap |
| 9 | November 3 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 24–38 | 2–6 | Raymond James Stadium | 65,667 | Recap |
| 10 | November 10 | New York Giants | L 20–27 | 2–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,005 | Recap |
| 11 | November 17 | Green Bay Packers | W 31–21 | 3–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,153 | Recap |
| 12 | November 24 | at New England Patriots | L 17–24 | 3–8 | Gillette Stadium | 68,436 | Recap |
| 13 | December 1 | Atlanta Falcons | L 24–30 (OT) | 3–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,947 | Recap |
| 14 | December 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 22–26 | 3–10 | Lambeau Field | 64,070 | Recap |
| 15 | December 15 | at New Orleans Saints | W 32–31 | 4–10 | Louisiana Superdome | 67,851 | Recap |
| 16 | December 21 | Miami Dolphins | W 20–17 | 5–10 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,285 | Recap |
| 17 | December 29 | at Detroit Lions | W 38–36 | 6–10 | Ford Field | 60,233 | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 3 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Bears | 7 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 27 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: September 8
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,226
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- TV: FOX
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 6 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 45 |
| Vikings | 3 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 39 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 15
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT/4:15 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,047
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 3: Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 22
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,945
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| Seahawks | 14 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 48 |
at Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, Washington
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 7:35 p.m. CDT/5:35 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,212
- Referee: Dick Hantak (105)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 6: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Vikings | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 12:00 pm CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,013
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- TV: Fox
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: at New York Jets
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at New York Jets – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Jets | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 8: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Vikings | 0 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 25 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,122
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- TV: FOX
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 9: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Buccaneers | 14 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,667
- Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 10: vs. New York Giants
Week 10: New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 27 |
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,122
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Vikings | 14 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Patriots | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 30 |
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 1
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,947
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the overtime loss, the Vikings fell to 3-9 and 0-3 against the NFC South.
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 10 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 22 |
| Packers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 8:35 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear skies, 11 °F (−12 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,070
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann and Suzy Kolber
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the loss, the Vikings failed to sweep the Packers and they were eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight year as result. The game had also featured a massive brawl between Green Bay and Minnesota at the end of the game following a game sealing interception.
Week 15: at New Orleans Saints
Week 15: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 14 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 32 |
| Saints | 10 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 31 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: December 15
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 67,851
- Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the win, the Vikings improved to 4-10 and finished 1-3 against the NFC South.
Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 16: Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the win, the Vikings secured a 1-3 record against the AFC East and finished 4-4 at home.
Week 17: at Detroit Lions
Week 17: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 14 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 38 |
| Lions | 14 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 36 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: December 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 60,233
- Referee: Bill Carollo (63)
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the win, the Vikings finished the season at 6-10 (4-2 against the NFC North) and 2-6 on the road.
Standings
Division
| 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 |
Conference
| # | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division leaders | ||||||||||
| 1[a] | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 11–1 | .469 | .432 |
| 2[a][b] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .432 |
| 3[a][b] | Green Bay Packers | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .451 | .414 |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .504 | .450 |
| Wild Cards | ||||||||||
| 5 | New York Giants | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .450 |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .494 | .429 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | ||||||||||
| 7 | New Orleans Saints | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .498 | .566 |
| 8[c] | St. Louis Rams | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .508 | .446 |
| 9[c] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .506 | .433 |
| 10[d] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .438 |
| 11[d] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .486 | .357 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .498 | .417 |
| 13[e] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 5–7 | .500 | .400 |
| 14[e] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .500 | .475 |
| 15 | Chicago Bears | North | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .521 | .430 |
| 16 | Detroit Lions | North | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .494 | .375 |
| Tiebreakers[f] | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Statistics
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 |
| Tackles | Greg 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 | 230.3 | 9th |
| Rushing offense | 2,507 | 156.7 | 1st |
| Total offense | 6,192 | 387.0 | 2nd |
| Passing defense | 4,103 | 256.4 | 29th |
| Rushing defense | 1,666 | 104.1 | 10th |
| Total defense | 5,769 | 360.6 | 26th |
