2018 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
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The 2018 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 58th in the National Football League (NFL), their third playing their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their fifth under head coach Mike Zimmer.
| 2018 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Zygi Wilf |
| General manager | Rick Spielman |
| Head coach | Mike Zimmer |
| Home stadium | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–7–1 |
| Division place | 2nd NFC North |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| All-Pros | 2
|
| Pro Bowlers | 4 |
| Uniform | |
Following a Week 8 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the team could no longer improve on their 13–3 record from the 2017 season, in which they won the NFC North division and reached the NFC Championship before losing to the eventual Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three years when they lost to the division rival Chicago Bears coupled with the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Washington Redskins in the final week of the regular season.
Roster changes
2018 draft
Notes
- The Vikings were awarded two compensatory selections at the NFL's annual spring owners' meetings. They received two additional selections in the sixth round, compensating for the losses of Cordarrelle Patterson and Adrian Peterson.[5]
Draft trades
- The Vikings traded a third-round selection (94th overall) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round selections (102nd and 180th overall).[1]
- The Vikings traded a fourth-round selection (130th overall) and a 2017 first-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for QB Sam Bradford.[2]
- The Vikings traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (167th and 225th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for a fifth-round selection (157th overall).
- The Vikings traded two sixth-round selections (180th and 204th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for fifth- and seventh-round selections (167th and 204th overall).
- The Vikings were awarded two sixth-round compensatory picks (213th and 218th overall).
- The Vikings traded a 2019 fifth-round selection to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round selection (225th overall) and QB Trevor Siemian.[3]
- The Vikings traded a seventh-round selection (248th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for CB Tramaine Brock.[4]
Transactions
| Date | Player name | Position | Contract terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 12 | Mack Brown | RB | 1 year / $630,000[6] |
| Anthony Harris | SS | 1 year / $705,000[6] | |
| March 16 | Dylan Bradley | DT | 1 year / $480,000[7] |
| March 20 | Kai Forbath | K | 1 year / $790,000[8] |
| March 28 | Marcus Sherels | CB | 1 year / $1.4 million[8] |
| April 30 | Terence Newman | CB | 1 year / $1.105 million[9] |
| Date | Player name | Position | Note | New team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 14 | Sam Bradford | QB | UFA | Arizona Cardinals |
| Tramaine Brock | CB | Denver Broncos | ||
| Case Keenum | QB | Denver Broncos | ||
| Jerick McKinnon | RB | San Francisco 49ers | ||
| March 16 | Jarius Wright | WR | Released[10] | Carolina Panthers |
| March 18 | Teddy Bridgewater | QB | UFA | New York Jets |
| March 21 | Shaan Washington | LB | Waived[11] | |
| Emmanuel Lamur | OLB | UFA | Oakland Raiders[12] | |
| March 22 | Joe Berger | G | Retired[11] | |
| March 23 | Tom Johnson | DT | UFA | Seattle Seahawks[13] |
| Jeremiah Sirles | G | Carolina Panthers[13] | ||
| March 24 | Shamar Stephen | DT | Seattle Seahawks[14] |
| Date | Player name | Position | Previous team | Contract terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 12 | Josh Andrews | G | Philadelphia Eagles | [15] |
| March 15 | Kirk Cousins | QB | Washington Redskins | 3 years / $84 million[8] |
| March 16 | Sheldon Richardson | DT | Seattle Seahawks | 1 year / $8 million[8] |
| March 19 | Trevor Siemian | QB | Denver Broncos | Trade[16] |
| March 20 | Josiah Price | TE | Minnesota Vikings | [11] |
| Nick Dooley | LS | [11] | ||
| March 22 | Tom Compton | G | Chicago Bears | 1 year / $900,000[8] |
| March 29 | Reshard Cliett | LB | Kansas City Chiefs | [17] |
| March 30 | Kendall Wright | WR | Chicago Bears | 1 year / $1 million[8] |
| April 5 | Tavarres King | WR | New York Giants | [8] |
| August 22 | George Iloka | S | Cincinnati Bengals | 1 year / $790,000[18] |
Staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
| Quarterbacks (QB)
Running backs (RB)
Wide receivers (WR)
Tight ends (TE)
|
Offensive linemen (OL)
Defensive linemen (DL)
|
Linebackers (LB)
Defensive backs (DB)
Special teams (ST)
|
Practice squad
Reserve
Rookies in italics 53 active, 9 reserve, 10 practice squad |
Preseason
The Vikings' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 11.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11 | at Denver Broncos | W 42–28 | 1–0 | Broncos Stadium at Mile High | 75,530 | Recap |
| 2 | August 18 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 10–14 | 1–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,637 | Recap |
| 3 | August 24 | Seattle Seahawks | W 21–20 | 2–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,676 | Recap |
| 4 | August 30 | at Tennessee Titans | W 13–3 | 3–1 | Nissan Stadium | 61,455 | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1: at Denver Broncos
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 14 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 42 |
| Broncos | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Vikings | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,637
- Referee: Shawn Hochuli (83)
- TV: KMSP
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 3: vs. Seattle Seahawks
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Vikings | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 24
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,676
- Referee: Brad Allen (122)
- TV: KMSP
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 4: at Tennessee Titans
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Titans | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: August 30
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 83 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,455
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV: KMSP
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Regular season
Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9 | San Francisco 49ers | W 24–16 | 1–0 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,673 | Recap |
| 2 | September 16 | at Green Bay Packers | T 29–29 (OT) | 1–0–1 | Lambeau Field | 78,461 | Recap |
| 3 | September 23 | Buffalo Bills | L 6–27 | 1–1–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,800 | Recap |
| 4 | September 27 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 31–38 | 1–2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 72,027 | Recap |
| 5 | October 7 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 23–21 | 2–2–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,696 | Recap |
| 6 | October 14 | Arizona Cardinals | W 27–17 | 3–2–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,801 | Recap |
| 7 | October 21 | at New York Jets | W 37–17 | 4–2–1 | MetLife Stadium | 77,982 | Recap |
| 8 | October 28 | New Orleans Saints | L 20–30 | 4–3–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,801 | Recap |
| 9 | November 4 | Detroit Lions | W 24–9 | 5–3–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,825 | Recap |
| 10 | Bye | ||||||
| 11 | November 18 | at Chicago Bears | L 20–25 | 5–4–1 | Soldier Field | 61,651 | Recap |
| 12 | November 25 | Green Bay Packers | W 24–17 | 6–4–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,872 | Recap |
| 13 | December 2 | at New England Patriots | L 10–24 | 6–5–1 | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 | Recap |
| 14 | December 10 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 7–21 | 6–6–1 | CenturyLink Field | 69,007 | Recap |
| 15 | December 16 | Miami Dolphins | W 41–17 | 7–6–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,841 | Recap |
| 16 | December 23 | at Detroit Lions | W 27–9 | 8–6–1 | Ford Field | 61,641 | Recap |
| 17 | December 30 | Chicago Bears | L 10–24 | 8–7–1 | U.S. Bank Stadium | 66,878 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
| Vikings | 3 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,673
- Referee: Clay Martin (19)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
The Vikings began the 2018 season with a home game against the San Francisco 49ers, their first home game since the Minneapolis Miracle in the divisional round of the 2017–18 NFL playoffs. The game saw quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson make their regular season debuts for the Vikings,[19][20] as well as the return of second-year running back Dalvin Cook, who had torn his ACL early in the 2017 season.[21] The two teams traded punts to start the game, before the Vikings put a drive together on their second possession, culminating with a 48-yard field goal by rookie kicker Daniel Carlson. The 49ers then failed to pick up a first down on their next possession, giving the Vikings good field position on their own 47-yard line off the ensuing punt as the first quarter drew to a close. Runs by Latavius Murray and a 17-yard pass from Cousins to Cook gave the Vikings a third-and-3 situation on the San Francisco 22-yard-line, from where Cousins threw a 22-yard strike to Stefon Diggs, the 100th touchdown pass of his career. On the ensuing San Francisco possession, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo linked up with tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Trent Taylor to get them into Minnesota territory, before a pass interference penalty against Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes put the 49ers just outside the red zone; however, the Minnesota defense stood firm and allowed just a 42-yard Robbie Gould field goal; however, on the Vikings' next drive, Cook fumbled the ball at the end of a 15-yard run, allowing San Francisco to regain possession. They marched down to the Vikings' 1-yard line, only for defensive tackle Linval Joseph to force a fumble from running back Alfred Morris, which safety Harrison Smith subsequently recovered. The Vikings were able to get out from under the shadow of their own goalposts and closed out the half with a 10–3 lead.
The Vikings defense forced a three-and-out to begin the second half, but only managed one first down on their ensuing possession before having to punt; however, three plays later, with the 49ers at third-and-8 from their own 20-yard line, the Vikings' rookie cornerback Mike Hughes intercepted a pass from Garoppolo and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown to put the Vikings up 17–3. Garoppolo responded immediately, however, completing a 56-yard pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to put the 49ers inside the Vikings' 20. As in the first half, though, the Minnesota defense held up and limited the 49ers to a 33-yard field goal. Cousins focused his attention on his wide receivers to begin the next Vikings possession, completing passes of 11 and 34 yards to Adam Thielen, the latter being the Vikings' longest completed pass of the day, to get into 49ers territory. Cook continued to run the ball, while Cousins' attention shifted to his tight ends, first completing a nine-yard pass to David Morgan II before an 11-yard completion to Kyle Rudolph for the Vikings' third touchdown of the day. A 36-yard completion from Garoppolo to Kittle was the highlight of the subsequent San Francisco drive, which culminated in a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis with 30 seconds left in the quarter. The Vikings went three-and-out on their next possession; they soon had the ball back, as cornerback Xavier Rhodes intercepted Garoppolo, only to again have to punt, giving San Francisco the ball back at their own 14-yard line. A 39-yard pass from Garoppolo to Pettis got the 49ers into the Vikings' half, but a tackle for a five-yard loss by Smith led to another third-down situation for San Francisco; Garoppolo's third-down pass was incomplete, which should have meant them having to punt, only for Richardson to be flagged for roughing the passer, giving the 49ers a 15-yard advantage and an automatic first down. They were able to get down to the Vikings' 4-yard line, but were unable to get the ball into the end zone and again had to settle for a field goal, reducing the margin to 8 points. The Vikings again had to punt on their next possession, but a 10-yard sack by Smith on the next series meant San Francisco had to do the same, giving the Vikings the ball back with six minutes left to play. A combination of runs from Murray and Cook allowed the Vikings to take three minutes off the clock, but a scramble run from Cousins came up just short of another first down; however, the Vikings were able to draw the 49ers' defense offside, giving them a free five yards and the first down. They were able to take another minute off the clock before punting, giving the 49ers the ball with 1:49 to play. Needing a touchdown to stand a chance of taking the game to overtime, Garoppolo had to go for it, but was intercepted by Smith on the second play of the drive, allowing the Vikings to run out the clock and claim their first win of the season.
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 29 |
| Packers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 29 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 78,461
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Overtime
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 2 saw the Vikings travel to Lambeau Field to take on their archrivals, the Green Bay Packers, against whom Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr effectively ended Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' 2017 season with a hit that broke Rodgers' collarbone.
The Packers received the ball first and were forced to punt. On the ensuing drive, the Packers forced the Vikings to go three-and-out, but the punt from the Vikings' Matt Wile was blocked by Geronimo Allison and recovered by the Packers' Josh Jackson for a touchdown. On Minnesota's next drive, quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Vikings on an eight-play, 57-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7–7, with the scoring pass going to Laquon Treadwell for 14 yards. Green Bay followed that with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams early in the second quarter, making the game 14–7. After trading punts and a missed 48-yard field goal for the Vikings by rookie kicker Daniel Carlson, the Packers' Mason Crosby made a 37-yard field goal at the end of the first half to send the Packers to the locker room leading 17–7.
The Vikings received the ball after halftime, but their drive stalled and were forced to punt. Green Bay followed that up with a 40-yard field goal from Crosby with 6:32 left in the third quarter. After trading punts, the Vikings scored another touchdown on a three-yard pass to Stefon Diggs early in the fourth quarter to reduce the Packers' lead to six points. Green Bay followed that up with Crosby's third field goal of the day, this time from 31 yards, but the Vikings responded quickly on their next drive, as Cousins hit Diggs with a 75-yard touchdown pass to make it a 23–21 lead for the Packers. Crosby then made his fourth field goal of the day from 48 yards with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter. Cousins threw an interception on the first play of the Vikings' next drive, leading to a fifth Crosby field goal from 36 yards with 1:45 remaining, putting the Packers up 29–21. Cousins then led the Vikings 75 yards in eight plays, resulting in a 22-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen, but the Vikings needed a two-point conversion to tie the game. Cousins then connected with Diggs to tie the game at 29–29, with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Green Bay was able to move down the field and into field goal range, but Crosby's 52-yard attempt missed left and the game went to overtime.
The Vikings won the overtime coin toss and received the ball. They moved 39 yards in seven plays, but Carlson's 49-yard attempt sailed wide right. Green Bay then was forced to punt after chewing 3:45 off the clock, and the Vikings started their next drive with 3:57 left to play. After moving 63 yards, the Vikings were at the Packers' 17-yard line with four seconds remaining in overtime, but Carlson missed his third field goal attempt of the game, this time from 35 yards, and again wide right. Carlson was waived the next day, replaced by veteran kicker Dan Bailey.
Week 3: vs. Buffalo Bills
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Although the Vikings entered the game as 16.5- to 17-point favorites over the Bills, they were dominated at home in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.[22]
Week 4: at Los Angeles Rams
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 31 |
| Rams | 7 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 38 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CDT/5:20 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Clear, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,027
- Referee: Brad Allen (122)
- TV announcers (Fox/NFLN): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink; (Amazon Prime): Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
This was the first NFL broadcast in history to have an all-female announcing team (accessible only to Amazon Prime viewers).
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Eagles | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 21 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT/3:25 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,696
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PHI – Zach Ertz 7-yard pass from Carson Wentz (Jake Elliott kick), 1:09. Vikings 23–21. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:38. Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 6: vs. Arizona Cardinals
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Vikings | 10 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,801
- Referee: Jerome Boger (23)
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber and Shane Bacon
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 7: at New York Jets
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
| Jets | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,982
- Referee: Shawn Smith (14)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
The Vikings recorded their first-ever road win against the Jets, ending a five-game road losing streak against them.[23]
Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 7 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| Vikings | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,801
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad (4)
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
This was a rematch of the Minneapolis Miracle from last year's divisional playoff game. There would be no miracle in this one however, as the Saints won 30–20 as the Vikings fell to 4–3–1.
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,825
- Referee: Pete Morelli (135)
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 11: at Chicago Bears
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 20 |
| Bears | 3 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 25 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 33 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,651
- Referee: John Parry (132)
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,872
- Referee: Bill Vinovich (52)
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 13: at New England Patriots
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Patriots | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 21 |
at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
- Date: December 10
- Game time: 7:15 p.m. CST/5:15 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,007
- Referee: Brad Allen (122)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Vikings | 21 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 41 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,841
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 16: at Detroit Lions
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
| Lions | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: December 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,641
- Referee: Walt Anderson (66)
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 24 |
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,878
- Referee: Clete Blakeman (34)
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Standings
Division
| NFC North | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3) Chicago Bears | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 10–2 | 421 | 283 | W4 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–2–1 | 6–5–1 | 360 | 341 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 1–4–1 | 3–8–1 | 376 | 400 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 324 | 360 | W1 |
Conference
| # | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division leaders | |||||||||||
| 1[a] | New Orleans Saints | South | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .488 | L1 |
| 2[a] | Los Angeles Rams | West | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 6–0 | 9–3 | .480 | .428 | W2 |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .430 | .419 | W4 |
| 4 | Dallas Cowboys | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .488 | .444 | W2 |
| Wild Cards | |||||||||||
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 8–4 | .484 | .400 | W2 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | .518 | .486 | W3 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
| 7 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–2–1 | 6–5–1 | .504 | .355 | L1 |
| 8[b] | Atlanta Falcons | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .482 | .348 | W3 |
| 9[b] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .486 | .371 | L2 |
| 10[b] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .508 | .518 | W1 |
| 11 | Green Bay Packers | North | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 1–4–1 | 3–8–1 | .488 | .417 | L1 |
| 12 | Detroit Lions | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .504 | .427 | W1 |
| 13[c] | New York Giants | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .487 | L3 |
| 14[c] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .523 | .506 | L4 |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 2–10 | .504 | .406 | L2 |
| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | West | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .527 | .302 | L4 |
| Tiebreakers[d] | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Pro Bowl
Four Vikings players were elected to the Pro Bowl when the rosters were announced on December 18, 2018, with both outside linebacker Anthony Barr and safety Harrison Smith named to their fourth Pro Bowls. Wide receiver Adam Thielen was named to his second Pro Bowl, having received his first nomination in 2017, while defensive end Danielle Hunter received his first Pro Bowl selection.[24]
Statistics
Team leaders
| Category | Player(s) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Kirk Cousins | 4,298 |
| Passing touchdowns | Kirk Cousins | 30 |
| Rushing yards | Dalvin Cook | 615 |
| Rushing touchdowns | Latavius Murray | 6 |
| Receptions | Adam Thielen | 113 |
| Receiving yards | Adam Thielen | 1,373 |
| Receiving touchdowns | Stefon Diggs Adam Thielen | 9 |
| Points | Dan Bailey | 93 |
| Kickoff return yards | Ameer Abdullah | 258 |
| Punt return yards | Marcus Sherels | 276 |
| Tackles | Eric Kendricks | 108 |
| Sacks | Danielle Hunter | 14.5 |
| Interceptions | Anthony Harris Harrison Smith | 3 |
| Forced fumbles | Anthony Barr Mike Hughes George Iloka Jaleel Johnson Linval Joseph Eric Kendricks Harrison Smith Stephen Weatherly | 1 |
Source: Minnesota Vikings' official website[25]
League rankings
| Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing offense | 3,497 | 269.0 | 8th |
| Rushing offense | 1,110 | 85.4 | 30th |
| Total offense | 4,607 | 354.4 | 17th |
| Passing defense | 2,803 | 215.6 | 5th |
| Rushing defense | 1,404 | 108.0 | 13th |
| Total defense | 4,207 | 323.6 | 5th |
Source: NFL.com[26]