The 2001 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 41st in the National Football League (NFL). Despite having a 12th ranked offense, the Vikings finished 5–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Before the end of the season, the team fired head coach Dennis Green, who had become a polarizing force among the Vikings fan base despite his successful coaching tenure with the team. Mike Tice coached the final game of 2001, a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
2001 Minnesota Vikings season | |
---|---|
Owner | Red McCombs |
General manager | Dennis Green |
Head coach | Dennis Green (Weeks 1–16) Mike Tice (Week 17) |
Home field | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
Results | |
Record | 5–11 |
Division place | 4th NFC Central |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | C Matt Birk TE Byron Chamberlain |
Uniform | |
This was the first season since 1989 that defensive tackle John Randle was not on the opening day roster.
The season began in tragic circumstances when offensive tackle Korey Stringer died of heatstroke in training camp.
The season started off with a 24–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers (which would be the Panthers' lone win). They did not win on the road at all during this season. Some season highlights included a 35–13 win over the rival Green Bay Packers in Week 6, and a Week 10 victory over the New York Giants in which Randy Moss pulled in 10 receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns leading to a 28–16 victory.
This was Cris Carter's final season in Minnesota, having played 12 seasons there, making eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (1993–2000), all with the Vikings. He is the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He retired at the end of the disappointing season, but would briefly return to play for the Miami Dolphins midway through next season.
Offseason
editAdditions | Subtractions |
---|---|
WR Jake Reed (Saints) | LB Dwayne Rudd (Browns) |
TE Byron Chamberlain (Broncos) | DT John Randle (Seahawks) |
WR Matthew Hatchette (Jets) |
2001 Draft
editPro Bowler |
2001 Minnesota Vikings Draft | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Notes | |
Round | Selection | ||||
1 | 27 | Michael Bennett | Running back | Wisconsin | |
2 | 57 | Willie Howard | Defensive end | Stanford | |
3 | 69 | Eric Kelly | Cornerback | Kentucky | From Patriots[a] |
86 | Traded to the New England Patriots[a] | ||||
4 | 119 | Traded to the New England Patriots[a] | |||
130 | Shawn Worthen | Defensive tackle | Texas Christian | Compensatory pick[b] | |
131 | Cedric James | Wide receiver | Texas Christian | Compensatory pick[b] | |
5 | 157 | Patrick Chukwurah | Linebacker | Wyoming | |
6 | 189 | Carey Scott | Cornerback | Kentucky State | |
7 | 225 | Brian Crawford | Defensive tackle | Western Oregon |
- ^[a] The Vikings traded their third- and fourth-round selections (86th and 119th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for New England's third-round selection (69th overall).
- ^[b] The Vikings were awarded two compensatory picks in the fourth round for the losses of Jeff Christy, Duane Clemons, Jeff George and Jimmy Hitchcock.
Undrafted free agents
editPlayer | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Brian Russell | Safety | San Diego State |
Mike Solwold | Long snapper/Tight end | Wisconsin |
Staff
edit
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
editPreseason
editSchedule
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 11 | at New Orleans Saints | W 28–21 | 1–0 | Alamodome (San Antonio, TX) | 46,752 | Recap |
2 | August 16 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 24–10 | 2–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,790 | Recap |
3 | August 24 | Indianapolis Colts | W 28–21 | 3–0 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,804 | Recap |
4 | August 31 | at Miami Dolphins | W 20–7 | 4–0 | Pro Player Stadium | 60,136 | Recap |
Game summaries
editWeek 1: at New Orleans Saints
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Saints | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: August 11
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 46,752
- Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: August 16
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,790
- Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 10 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 21 |
Vikings | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Week 4: at Miami Dolphins
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Date: August 31
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT/6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,136
- Referee: Perry Havener (61)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Regular season
editSchedule
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Game recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 9 | Carolina Panthers | L 13–24 | 0–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,108 | Recap |
2[A] | September 23 | at Chicago Bears | L 10–17 | 0–2 | Soldier Field | 66,944 | Recap |
3 | September 30 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 20–16 | 1–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,105 | Recap |
4 | October 7 | at New Orleans Saints | L 15–28 | 1–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 70,020 | Recap |
5 | October 14 | Detroit Lions | W 31–26 | 2–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,048 | Recap |
6 | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | W 35–13 | 3–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,165 | Recap |
7 | October 28 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 14–41 | 3–4 | Raymond James Stadium | 65,558 | Recap |
8 | Bye week | ||||||
9 | November 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 17–48 | 3–5 | Veterans Stadium | 65,638 | Recap |
10 | November 19 | New York Giants | W 28–16 | 4–5 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,283 | Recap |
11 | November 25 | Chicago Bears | L 6–13 | 4–6 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,214 | Recap |
12 | December 2 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 16–21 | 4–7 | Heinz Field | 62,661 | Recap |
13 | December 9 | Tennessee Titans | W 42–24 | 5–7 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,271 | Recap |
14 | December 16 | at Detroit Lions | L 24–27 | 5–8 | Pontiac Silverdome | 72,190 | Recap |
15 | December 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 3–33 | 5–9 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,150 | Recap |
16 | December 30 | at Green Bay Packers | L 13–24 | 5–10 | Lambeau Field | 59,870 | Recap |
17[A] | January 7 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 3–19 | 5–11 | PSINet Stadium | 69,465 | Recap |
Notes
- Intradivision opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
editWeek 1: vs. Carolina Panthers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panthers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,108
- Referee: Wayne McKreight (166)
- TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, Jeff Lageman, and Mike Goldberg
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Chicago Bears
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, fog, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,944
- Referee: Mike Carey (94)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,105
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at New Orleans Saints
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
Saints | 6 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 28 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 70,020
- Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Detroit Lions
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
Vikings | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,048
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
Vikings | 0 | 20 | 0 | 15 | 35 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 3:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,165
- Referee: Ron Winter (14)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 14 |
Buccaneers | 7 | 21 | 13 | 0 | 41 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 65,558
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Philadelphia Eagles
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Eagles | 7 | 24 | 7 | 10 | 48 |
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. New York Giants
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 8:10 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,283
- Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 7:35 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,214
- Referee: Johnny Grier (23)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Pittsburgh Steelers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 16 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,661
- Referee: Tony Corrente (99)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Vikings | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at Detroit Lions
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
Lions | 14 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 72,190
- Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 10 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 33 |
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Game information | ||
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Week 16: at Green Bay Packers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Packers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 19 °F (−7 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,870
- Referee: Larry Nemmers (20)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Ravens | 0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: January 7
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,465
- Referee: Gerald Austin (34)
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Standings
editNFC Central | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) Chicago Bears | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 338 | 203 | W4 |
(4) Green Bay Packers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 390 | 266 | W3 |
(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 324 | 280 | L1 |
Minnesota Vikings | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 290 | 390 | L4 |
Detroit Lions | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 270 | 424 | W1 |
Statistics
editTeam leaders
editCategory | Player(s) | Value |
---|---|---|
Passing yards | Daunte Culpepper | 2,612 |
Passing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 14 |
Rushing yards | Michael Bennett | 682 |
Rushing touchdowns | Daunte Culpepper | 5 |
Receiving yards | Randy Moss | 1,233 |
Receiving touchdowns | Randy Moss | 10 |
Points | Gary Anderson | 74 |
Kickoff return yards | Nate Jacquet | 1,012 |
Punt return yards | Nate Jacquet | 219 |
Tackles | Kailee Wong | 98 |
Sacks | Chris Hovan | 6 |
Interceptions | Robert Griffith Eric Kelly |
2 |
Forced fumbles | Patrick Chukwurah | 3 |
League rankings
editCategory | Total yards | Yards per game | NFL rank (out of 31) |
---|---|---|---|
Passing offense | 3,576 | 223.5 | 7th |
Rushing offense | 1,609 | 100.6 | 25th |
Total offense | 5,185 | 324.1 | 12th |
Passing defense | 3,367 | 210.4 | 18th |
Rushing defense | 2,299 | 143.7 | 30th |
Total defense | 5,666 | 354.1 | 27th |
Notes
edit- ^ a b The Vikings were originally scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 17) at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was rescheduled to Week 17.
References
edit- ^ 2009 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide. p. 251. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.