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1980 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1980 |
| record | 9–7 |
| division_place | 1st NFC Central |
| coach | Bud Grant |
| general manager | Mike Lynn |
| stadium | Metropolitan Stadium |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1980-81-nfl-playoffs) |
| (at [Eagles](1980-philadelphia-eagles-season)) 16–31 | |
| pro bowlers | LB Matt Blair |
| WR Ahmad Rashad | |
| AP All-pros | LB Matt Blair (1st team) |
| uniform | File:Vikings1975-86.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
(at Eagles) 16–31 WR Ahmad Rashad | AP All-pros = LB Matt Blair (1st team) The 1980 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 20th in the National Football League and their 14th under head coach Bud Grant. The Vikings improved on their 7–9 record from last year with a 9–7 record, equal to that of the Detroit Lions, but won the NFC Central division title on the conference record tiebreaker. In the Divisional Playoffs, the Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 31–16.
The most dramatic game of the season came in a Week 15 home game against Cleveland, with Minnesota at 8–6. The Vikings trailed 23–9 early in the fourth quarter, but with five seconds left in regulation, despite missing two field goals and two extra points in the game, they were on the Cleveland 46-yard line, having reduced the Browns' lead to one point. Quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a Hail Mary pass that Ahmad Rashad caught at the 2-yard line before backing into the end zone to give Minnesota a 28–23 win.
Offseason
1980 draft
Main article: 1980 NFL draft
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | 1980 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 9 | 2 | 30 | 39 | 3 | 65 | 68 | 4 | 92 | 5 | 121 | 122 | 6 | 148 | 7 | 174 | 8 | 204 | 9 | 232 | 10 | 258 | 11 | 288 | 12 | 315 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Martin | Defensive tackle | [Washington](1979-washington-huskies-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Willie Teal | Cornerback | [LSU](1979-lsu-tigers-football-team) | From [49ers](1980-san-francisco-49ers-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [San Francisco 49ers](1980-san-francisco-49ers-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [San Francisco 49ers](1980-san-francisco-49ers-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brent Boyd | Center | [UCLA](1979-ucla-bruins-football-team) | From [Saints](1980-new-orleans-saints-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dennis Johnson | Linebacker | [USC](1979-usc-trojans-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doug Paschal | Running back | [North Carolina](1979-north-carolina-tar-heels-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Jones | Running back | [California](1979-california-golden-bears-football-team) | From [Saints](1980-new-orleans-saints-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ray Yakavonis | Defensive end | East Stroudsburg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henry Johnson | Linebacker | [Georgia Tech](1979-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Seattle Seahawks](1980-seattle-seahawks-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dennis Mosley | Running back | [Iowa](1979-iowa-hawkeyes-football-team) | In lieu of #231 (passed) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kenny Brown | Wide receiver | [Nebraska](1979-nebraska-cornhuskers-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sam Harrell | Running back | [East Carolina](1979-east-carolina-pirates-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Lane | Defensive back | [Florida A&M](1979-florida-a-m-rattlers-football-team) |
Notes
Roster
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 9 | [San Diego Chargers](1980-san-diego-chargers-season) | **W** 21–17 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 45,179 | |||||
| August 18 | at [Kansas City Chiefs](1980-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 10–14 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 39,879 | |||||
| August 23 | at [Miami Dolphins](1980-miami-dolphins-season) | **W** 17–10 | 2–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 36,116 | |||||
| August 30 | [Cleveland Browns](1980-cleveland-browns-season) | **W** 38–16 | 3–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,262 |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7 | [Atlanta Falcons](1980-atlanta-falcons-season) | **W** 24–23 | 1–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 44,773 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 14 | [Philadelphia Eagles](1980-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **L** 7–42 | 1–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,460 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 21 | at **[Chicago Bears](1980-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 34–14 | 2–1 | Soldier Field | 59,983 | |||||||||||||||||
| September 28 | at **[Detroit Lions](1980-detroit-lions-season)** | **L** 7–27 | 2–2 | Silverdome | 80,291 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 5 | [Pittsburgh Steelers](1980-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 17–23 | 2–3 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,583 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 12 | **Chicago Bears** | **W** 13–7 | 3–3 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,751 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 19 | at [Cincinnati Bengals](1980-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **L** 0–14 | 3–4 | Riverfront Stadium | 44,487 | |||||||||||||||||
| October 26 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1980-green-bay-packers-season)** | **L** 3–16 | 3–5 | Lambeau Field | 56,191 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 2 | at [Washington Redskins](1980-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 39–14 | 4–5 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 52,060 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 9 | **Detroit Lions** | **W** 34–0 | 5–5 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,264 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 16 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1980-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 38–30 | 6–5 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,032 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 23 | **Green Bay Packers** | **L** 13–25 | 6–6 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,234 | |||||||||||||||||
| November 30 | at [New Orleans Saints](1980-new-orleans-saints-season) | **W** 23–20 | 7–6 | Louisiana Superdome | 30,936 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 7 | at **Tampa Bay Buccaneers** | **W** 21–10 | 8–6 | Tampa Stadium | 65,649 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 14 | [Cleveland Browns](1980-cleveland-browns-season) | **W** 28–23 | 9–6 | Metropolitan Stadium | 42,202 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 21 | at [Houston Oilers](1980-houston-oilers-season) | **L** 16–20 | 9–7 | Astrodome | 51,064 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 15: vs Cleveland Browns
Main article: Miracle at the Met
First quarter
- CLE – Calvin Hill 18-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick). Browns 7–0. Second quarter
- CLE – Brian Sipe 2-yard run (kick failed). Browns 13–0. Third quarter
- MIN – Joe Senser 31-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (kick failed). Browns 13–6.
- CLE – Don Cockroft 32-yard field goal. Browns 16–6.
- MIN – Rick Danmeier 24-yard field goal. Browns 16–9. Fourth quarter
- CLE – Cleo Miller 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick). Browns 23–9.
- MIN – Ted Brown 7-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (kick failed). Browns 23–15.
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 12-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick). Browns 23–22.
- MIN – Ahmad Rashad 46-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (kick failed). Vikings 28–23. Trailing 23–9 entering the fourth quarter the Vikings came back and won on a desperation Hail Mary pass from quarterback Tommy Kramer to wide receiver Ahmad Rashad to clinch the NFC Central Division title in what became known as the "Miracle at the Met".
Standings
Postseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | January 3 | at [Philadelphia Eagles](1980-philadelphia-eagles-season) | **L** 16–31 | Veterans Stadium | 68,434 |
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Tommy Kramer | 3,582 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Tommy Kramer | 19 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Ted Brown | 912 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Ted Brown | 8 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Ahmad Rashad | 1,095 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Joe Senser | 7 | |||||||||
| Points | Rick Danmeier | 81 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Eddie Payton | 1,184 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | Eddie Payton | 251 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | John Turner | 6 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1980 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 28) | Total offense | 5,330 | 333.1 | 11th | Total defense | 5,856 | 366.0 | 26th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 3,688 | 230.5 | 3rd | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,642 | 102.6 | 27th | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 3,400 | 212.5 | 24th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 2,456 | 153.5 | 25th |
References
References
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198012140min.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: Cleveland Browns 23 at Minnesota Vikings 28, Sunday, December 14, 1980]
- "1980 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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