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| 2003 Minnesota Vikings season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Mike Tice |
| Home stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 2ndNFC North |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| All-Pros | 2
|
| Pro Bowlers | 4
|
| Uniform | |
The2003 season was theMinnesota Vikings' 43rd in theNational Football League (NFL). They finished second in theNFC North with a 9–7 record, behind the 10–6Green Bay Packers, but missed the playoffs for a third straight year. Despite gaining 6,294 yards of offense over their 16 games, by far the most in the league, the team managed just 416 points, the sixth-most in the NFL. The Vikings won their first six games of the 2003 season, then lost their next four games, after which they alternated wins and losses for the remainder of the season. The Vikings were officially eliminated from postseason contention with a loss to theArizona Cardinals on the last play of their final game.
Wide receiverRandy Moss led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions, the third time in his career that he led the league in that category. After two seasons of inconsistency, rejuvenated quarterbackDaunte Culpepper was voted to play in the second Pro Bowl of his career at the end of the season.
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| QBGus Frerotte (Bengals) | QBTodd Bouman (Saints) |
| TMike Rosenthal (Giants) | DELorenzo Bromell (Raiders) |
| LBChris Claiborne (Lions) | CBTyrone Carter (Jets) |
| CBKen Irvin (Saints) | FBHarold Morrow (Ravens) |
| CBDenard Walker (Broncos) |
| Pro Bowler |
| 2003 Minnesota Vikings draft | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
| Round | Overall | ||||
| 1 | 9 | Kevin Williams | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State | In lieu of #7 (time expired)[A] |
| 2 | 40 | E. J. Henderson | Linebacker | Maryland | |
| 3 | 71 | Nate Burleson | Wide receiver | Nevada | |
| 4 | 105 | Onterrio Smith | Running back | Oregon | |
| 5 | 142 | Traded to theCleveland Browns[B] | |||
| 6 | 180 | Eddie Johnson | Punter | Idaho State | |
| 190 | Mike Nattiel | Linebacker | Florida | FromSaints[C] | |
| 7 | 221 | Keenan Howry | Wide receiver | Oregon | |
Notes:
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Reserve lists
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 14–16 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,370 | Recap |
| 2 | August 16 | atKansas City Chiefs | L 16–26 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,634 | Recap |
| 3 | August 22 | atOakland Raiders | W 21–6 | 1–2 | Network Associates Coliseum | 37,411 | Recap |
| 4 | August 28 | Arizona Cardinals | L 27–31 | 1–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,473 | Recap |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
atHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
atArrowhead Stadium,Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
atNetwork Associates Coliseum,Oakland, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Vikings | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 10 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
| Packers | 0 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 25 |
atLambeau Field,Green Bay, Wisconsin
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
atHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| Lions | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Vikings | 14 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 39 |
| Falcons | 6 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 7 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
| Vikings | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Chargers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
| Raiders | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
atNetwork Associates Coliseum,Oakland, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Vikings | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Rams | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 48 |
atEdward Jones Dome,St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Vikings | 0 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Bears | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
atSoldier Field,Chicago, Illinois
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| Vikings | 7 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 45 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 18 |
atSun Devil Stadium,Tempe, Arizona
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Despite still having a chance to make the playoffs by winning the NFC North, the Vikings squandered a 17–6 fourth-quarter lead in the final two minutes and lost to the 3–12Arizona Cardinals afterJosh McCown threw a 28-yard pass toNate Poole for the game-winning touchdown with no time left, and with the Packers' win over the Broncos, giving them the NFC North title, and ending the Vikings season.
| NFC North | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (4)Green Bay Packers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 442 | 307 | W4 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 416 | 353 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 283 | 346 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 270 | 379 | W1 |
| Category | Player(s) | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Daunte Culpepper | 3,479 |
| Passing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 25 |
| Rushing yards | Moe Williams | 745 |
| Rushing touchdowns | Moe Williams Onterrio Smith | 5 |
| Receiving yards | Randy Moss | 1,632 * |
| Receiving touchdowns | Randy Moss | 17 |
| Points | Randy Moss Aaron Elling | 102 |
| Kickoff return yards | Onterrio Smith | 588 |
| Punt return yards | Keenan Howry | 247 |
| Tackles | Brian Russell | 95 |
| Sacks | Kevin Williams | 10.5 |
| Interceptions | Brian Russell | 9 |
| Forced fumbles | Kenny Mixon | 4 |
* Vikings single seasonrecord
| Category | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 32) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing offense | 3,951 | 246.9 | 4th |
| Rushing offense | 2,343 | 146.4 | 4th |
| Total offense | 6,294 | 393.4 | 1st |
| Passing defense | 3,477 | 217.3 | 26th |
| Rushing defense | 1,879 | 117.4 | 17th |
| Total defense | 5,356 | 334.8 | 23rd |