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1996 Minnesota Vikings season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Minnesota Vikings |
| year | 1996 |
| record | 9–7 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC Central |
| coach | Dennis Green |
| stadium | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| playoffs | Lost [Wild Card Playoffs](1996-97-nfl-playoffs) |
| (at [Cowboys](1996-dallas-cowboys-season)) 15–40 | |
| pro bowlers | WR Cris Carter |
| G Randall McDaniel | |
| DT John Randle | |
| AP All-pros | G Randall McDaniel (1st team) |
| DT John Randle (1st team) | |
| uniform | File:Viking1996-98.png |
| shortnavlink | Vikings seasons |
(at Cowboys) 15–40 G Randall McDaniel DT John Randle | AP All-pros = G Randall McDaniel (1st team) DT John Randle (1st team) The 1996 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 36th in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Dennis Green, they finished with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs after a one-year absence, starting a run of five consecutive playoff appearances.
They started the season with five wins in their first six games, before losing their next four. Starting quarterback Warren Moon suffered a broken collarbone during the season and missed the final six games, allowing fifth-year backup Brad Johnson to take his place. With Johnson under center, the Vikings won four of their remaining five games, including divisional victories on the road against the Detroit Lions and at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those wins proved pivotal in the Vikings qualification for the playoffs, as their superior intra-conference record (8–4) over the Washington Redskins rendered Minnesota's week 17 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers irrelevant, despite the Redskins defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings entered the playoffs as the number 6 seed in the NFC, pitting them against the Cowboys in the wildcard round. The Cowboys put up 30 unanswered points in the first half and ultimately won the game 40–15, making it the fourth time in five seasons that the Vikings' season ended in the wildcard round.
For the season, the Vikings sported new uniforms, adding the team's logo to both sleeves of the jersey as well as adding yellow number and yellow name outlines. These uniforms would remain in use with the Minnesota Vikings until 2005.
Offseason
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| T Scott Dill (Buccaneers) | DE Roy Barker (49ers) |
| DE Robert Goff (Saints) | T Rick Cunningham (Raiders) |
| LB Dixon Edwards (Cowboys) | TE Adrian Cooper (49ers) |
| TE David Frisch (Patriots) | LB Jack Del Rio (Dolphins) |
| DB Anthony Prior (Jets) | S Charles Mincy (Buccaneers) |
| T Ariel Solomon (Steelers) | |
| LB Darryl Talley (Falcons) |
1996 draft
Main article: 1996 NFL draft
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | 1996 Minnesota Vikings Draft | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Draft order | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Player name | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Position | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | College | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Notes | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Round | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Selection | 1 | 16 | 2 | 45 | 3 | 75 | 4 | 97 | 112 | 5 | 137 | 148 | 6 | 182 | 7 | 223 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duane Clemons | Linebacker | [California](1995-california-golden-bears-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Manley | Defensive tackle | [Vanderbilt](1995-vanderbilt-commodores-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moe Williams | Running back | [Kentucky](1995-kentucky-wildcats-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hunter Goodwin | Tight end | [Texas A&M](1995-texas-a-m-aggies-football-team) | From [Cardinals](1996-arizona-cardinals-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Arizona Cardinals](1996-arizona-cardinals-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [Arizona Cardinals](1996-arizona-cardinals-season)*** | From [Giants](1996-new-york-giants-season) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean Boyd | Defensive back | [North Carolina](1995-north-carolina-tar-heels-football-team) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Traded to the [New York Giants](1996-new-york-giants-season)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jon Merrill | Offensive tackle | [Duke](1995-duke-blue-devils-football-team) |
Notes:
Staff
- Chairman of the Board – John Skoglund
- President/Chief Executive Officer – Roger Headrick
- Head coach – Dennis Green
- Offensive coordinator – Brian Billick
- Quarterbacks – Ray Sherman
- Running backs – Carl Hargrave
- Receivers – Chip Myers
- Tight ends – Mike Tice
- Offensive line – Keith Rowen
- Defensive coordinator – Foge Fazio
- Defensive line – John Levra
- Inside linebackers – Tom Olivadotti
- Outside linebackers – Trent Walters
- Defensive backs – Richard Solomon
- Special teams – Gary Zauner
- Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel
- Assistant strength and conditioning – Jeff Friday
Roster
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 3 | [San Diego Chargers](1996-san-diego-chargers-season) | **W** 23–20 (OT) | 1–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 34,367 | |||||
| August 8 | [Buffalo Bills](1996-buffalo-bills-season) | **L** 12–35 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 36,297 | |||||
| August 19 | at [Miami Dolphins](1996-miami-dolphins-season) | **L** 17–24 | 1–2 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 55,598 | |||||
| August 23 | at [New Orleans Saints](1996-new-orleans-saints-season) | **L** 13–16 | 1–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 35,728 |
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 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | **[Detroit Lions](1996-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 17–13 | 1–0 | Metrodome | 52,972 | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 8 | at [Atlanta Falcons](1996-atlanta-falcons-season) | **W** 23–17 | 2–0 | Georgia Dome | 42,688 | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 15 | at **[Chicago Bears](1996-chicago-bears-season)** | **W** 20–14 | 3–0 | Soldier Field | 61,301 | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 22 | **[Green Bay Packers](1996-green-bay-packers-season)** | **W** 30–21 | 4–0 | Metrodome | 64,168 | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 29 | at [New York Giants](1996-new-york-giants-season) | **L** 15–10 | 4–1 | Giants Stadium | 70,970 | ||||||||||||||||||
| October 6 | [Carolina Panthers](1996-carolina-panthers-season) | **W** 14–12 | 5–1 | Metrodome | 60,894 | ||||||||||||||||||
| October 13 | at **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1996-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **L** 24–13 | 5–2 | Houlihan's Stadium | 32,175 | ||||||||||||||||||
| *Bye* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 28 | **[Chicago Bears](1996-chicago-bears-season)** | **L** 15–13 | 5–3 | Metrodome | 58,143 | ||||||||||||||||||
| November 3 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1996-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **L** 21–6 | 5–4 | Metrodome | 59,552 | ||||||||||||||||||
| November 10 | at [Seattle Seahawks](1996-seattle-seahawks-season) | **L** 42–23 | 5–5 | Kingdome | 50,794 | ||||||||||||||||||
| November 17 | at [Oakland Raiders](1996-oakland-raiders-season) | **W** 16–13 (OT) | 6–5 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 41,183 | ||||||||||||||||||
| November 24 | [Denver Broncos](1996-denver-broncos-season) | **L** 21–17 | 6–6 | Metrodome | 59,142 | ||||||||||||||||||
| December 1 | [Arizona Cardinals](1996-arizona-cardinals-season) | **W** 41–17 | 7–6 | Metrodome | 45,767 | ||||||||||||||||||
| December 8 | at **[Detroit Lions](1996-detroit-lions-season)** | **W** 24–22 | 8–6 | Silverdome | 46,043 | ||||||||||||||||||
| December 15 | **[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1996-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)** | **W** 21–10 | 9–6 | Metrodome | 49,202 | ||||||||||||||||||
| December 22 | at **[Green Bay Packers](1996-green-bay-packers-season)** | **L** 38–10 | 9–7 | Lambeau Field | 59,306 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | December 28 | at [Dallas Cowboys](1996-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 40–15 | Texas Stadium | 64,682 |
Statistics
Team leaders
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Player(s) | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Brad Johnson | 2,258 | |||||||||
| Passing touchdowns | Brad Johnson | 17 | |||||||||
| Rushing yards | Robert Smith | 692 | |||||||||
| Rushing touchdowns | Leroy Hoard Robert Smith | 3 | |||||||||
| Receiving yards | Jake Reed | 1,320 | |||||||||
| Receiving touchdowns | Cris Carter | 10 | |||||||||
| Points | Scott Sisson | 96 | |||||||||
| Kickoff return yards | Qadry Ismail | 527 | |||||||||
| Punt return yards | David Palmer | 216 | |||||||||
| Tackles | Jeff Brady | 101 | |||||||||
| Sacks | John Randle | 11.5 | |||||||||
| Interceptions | Orlando Thomas | 5 | |||||||||
| Forced fumbles | John Randle | 4 |
League rankings
| Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Category | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Total yards | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | Yards per game | Minnesota Vikings | year=1996 | border=2}}" | NFL rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (out of 30) | Total offense | 5,204 | 325.2 | 12th | Total defense | 5,087 | 317.9 | 16th | |||||||
| Passing offense | 3,658 | 228.6 | 8th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing offense | 1,546 | 96.6 | 24th | ||||||||||||
| Passing defense | 3,121 | 195.1 | 9th | ||||||||||||
| Rushing defense | 1,966 | 122.9 | 24th |
References
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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