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1978 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 8–7–1 |
| division_place | 1st NFC Central |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Mike Lynn |
| stadium | Metropolitan Stadium |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1978-79-nfl-playoffs) |
| (at [Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season)) 10–34 | |
| pro bowlers | LB Matt Blair |
| WR Ahmad Rashad | |
| uniform | File:Vikings1975-86.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
(at Rams) 10–34 WR Ahmad Rashad The 1978 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 18th in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings finished with an 8–7–1 record, and finished in first place in the NFC Central division, despite having a regular season point differential of minus 12. The team appeared in the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years. In the divisional round, the Vikings lost 34–10 to the Los Angeles Rams. Following the season, longtime quarterback Fran Tarkenton retired.
Offseason
1978 draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | 1978 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 21 | 2 | 48 | 3 | 75 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 132 | 6 | 159 | 7 | 186 | 8 | 204 | 213 | 9 | 240 | 10 | 272 | 11 | 299 | 12 | 326 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Holloway | Defensive end | [Pittsburgh](1977-pittsburgh-panthers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Turner | Defensive back | [Miami (FL)](1977-miami-hurricanes-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whip Walton | Linebacker | [San Diego State](1977-san-diego-state-aztecs-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Hough | Center | [Utah State](1977-utah-state-aggies-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [New York Giants](1978-new-york-giants-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [San Francisco 49ers](1978-san-francisco-49ers-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Philadelphia Eagles](1978-philadelphia-eagles-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Wood | Placekicker | Southeast Missouri State | From [Seahawks](1978-seattle-seahawks-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [New York Jets](1978-new-york-jets-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Deutsch | Punter | [Colorado State](1977-colorado-state-rams-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hughie Shaw | Running back | Texas A&I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ron Harris | Running back | [Colorado State](1977-colorado-state-rams-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Morrow | Offensive tackle | [Minnesota](1977-minnesota-golden-gophers-football-team) |
Notes
Roster
|
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5 | [Washington Redskins](1978-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 20–13 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,212 | |||||
| August 12 | at [Kansas City Chiefs](1978-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 13–17 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 41,092 | |||||
| August 18 | at [Miami Dolphins](1978-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 22–30 | 1–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | 46,316 | |||||
| August 26 | [Buffalo Bills](1978-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 30–27 | 2–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,062 |
Regular season
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | at [New Orleans Saints](1978-new-orleans-saints-season) | **L** 24–31 | 0–1 | Superdome | 54,187 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 11 | [Denver Broncos](1978-denver-broncos-season) | **W** 12–9 | 1–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,508 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 17 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **L** 10–16 | 1–2 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,152 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 25 | at **[Chicago Bears](1978-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 24–20 | 2–2 | Soldier Field | 53,551 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 24–7 | 3–2 | Tampa Stadium | 65,972 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at [Seattle Seahawks](1978-seattle-seahawks-season) | **L** 28–29 | 3–3 | Kingdome | 62,031 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | [Los Angeles Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 17–34 | 3–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,551 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | **[Green Bay Packers](1978-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 21–7 | 4–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,411 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 26 | at [Dallas Cowboys](1978-dallas-cowboys-season) | **W** 21–10 | 5–4 | Texas Stadium | 61,848 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | **[Detroit Lions](1978-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 17–7 | 6–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,008 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | **[Chicago Bears](1978-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 17–14 | 7–4 | Metropolitan Stadium | 43,286 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | [San Diego Chargers](1978-san-diego-chargers-season) | **L** 7–13 | 7–5 | Metropolitan Stadium | 38,859 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1978-green-bay-packers-season)** | **T** 10–10 (OT) | 7–5–1 | Lambeau Field | 51,737 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | [Philadelphia Eagles](1978-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **W** 28–27 | 8–5–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 38,722 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 9 | at **[Detroit Lions](1978-detroit-lions-season)** | **L** 14–45 | 8–6–1 | Silverdome | 78,685 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at [Oakland Raiders](1978-oakland-raiders-season) | **L** 20–27 | 8–7–1 | Oakland Coliseum | 44,643 |
Game summaries
Week 8: vs Green Bay Packers
First quarter
- No scoring plays. Second quarter
- MIN – Chuck Foreman 16-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 7–0.
- GB – Terdell Middleton 3-yard run (Chester Marcol kick). Tied 7–7.
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 4-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 14–7. Third quarter
- No scoring plays. Fourth quarter
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 15-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Rick Danmeier kick). Vikings 21–7. Top passers
- GB – David Whitehurst – 18/30, 120 yards, INT
- MIN – Fran Tarkenton – 26/43, 262 yards, 3 TD Top rushers
- GB – Terdell Middleton – 15 rushes, 81 yards, TD
- MIN – Chuck Foreman – 24 rushes, 46 yards Top receivers
- GB – Barty Smith – 6 receptions, 54 yards
- MIN – Rickey Young – 7 receptions, 73 yards The Vikings won a game they had to win in their bid to win a 10th NFC Central division title in 11 seasons, as Fran Tarkenton completed 26 of 43 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Ahmad Rashad. "That's pretty amazing for a guy who can't throw a football anymore, isn't it?" said the 38-year-old Tarkenton, who raised his 18-year yardage total to 45,143, the first man to surpass 45,000 yards. Tarkenton's third scoring strike to running back Chuck Foreman just before the half went for 16 yards. Terdell Middleton, who entered the game as the NFC's third leading rusher, scored Green Bay's only touchdown on a 3-yard run midway through the second quarter, giving Green Bay a 7–7 tie. He finished the game with 81 yards on 15 carries.
Standings
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Divisional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31 | at [Los Angeles Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 10–34 | 0–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 69,631 |
In 2004, Football Outsiders named the 1978 Vikings as one of the "worst playoff teams ever".
Awards and records
- QB Fran Tarkenton threw 32 interceptions on the season, surpassing his own franchise record of 25 (set in 1962)
- RB Rickey Young led the league with 88 receptions, setting a Vikings single-season record.
Statistical leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Fran Tarkenton | 3,468 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Fran Tarkenton | 25 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Chuck Foreman | 749 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Chuck Foreman | 5 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Ahmad Rashad | 769 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Sammy White | 9 | |||||||||
| Points | Rick Danmeier | 72 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Kevin Miller | 854 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Kevin Miller | 239 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | Bobby Bryant | 7 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1978 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 28) | Total offense | 4,779 | 298.7 | 17th | Total defense | 4,806 | 300.4 | 14th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 3,243 | 202.7 | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,536 | 96.0 | 28th | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 2,690 | 168.1 | 19th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 2,116 | 132.3 | 10th |
References
References
- "1978 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
- [http://www.footballoutsiders.com/walkthrough/2004/skin-teeth-worst-playoff-teams-ever Football Outsiders: Skin of the Teeth: The Worst Playoff Teams Ever]
Info: Wikipedia Source
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